SAN DIEGO -- A return to the disabled list for Kerry Wood has resulted in an opportunity for Rondell White to make his debut in a Chicago Cubs uniform.

	Wood

The Cubs on Sunday placed their prized right-hander on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle and activated the recently acquired White off the DL.

The move to place Wood on the disabled list is retroactive to July 30.

"I'm disappointed but it's just one start (missed) hopefully," Wood said. "I just need to get some rest and work things out."

Acquired from the Montreal Expos on the final day of July for rookie left-hander Scott Downs, White has been on the disabled list since July 8 with a pulled left hamstring. The 28-year-old outfielder has a history of injuries.

Wood, the 1998 National League Rookie of the Year, missed all of last season after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery and was also sidelined for the first month of this season.

"When you lose Wood and put some young kids out there, you're not going to be the same," said Cubs manager Don Baylor, who has been using three rookies in a makeshift starting rotation.

The 22-year-old flamethrower burst on the national scene with a 20-strikeout performance against the Astros on May 6, 1998, tying Roger Clemens' major league record in only his fifth career start.

Wood went 13-6 with a 3.40 ERA and 233 strikeouts in 1998 and became an instant hero in Chicago.

However, his second season came to an abrupt end after he blew out his right elbow in spring training and underwent surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Wood lost four of his first six decisions this season but has been coming on of late. He has won his last three starts and is 6-6 with a 5.16 ERA in 17 games -- 15 starts. In 90 2/3 innings, he has allowed 76 hits to go along with 80 strikeouts.

White is hitting .307 with 11 homers and 54 RBI after hitting a career-high .312 last season. He's a career .293 hitter with 101 homers and 384 RBI.

White's $4 million contract is set to expire this season and it includes a club option for 2001.

The Cubs have won 16 of their last 22 games and are nine games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central.