Milwaukee @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2012 ) Milwaukee 1, Chi. White Sox 0

Chicago hasn't had much luck in recent interleague play - and things became even more challenging after the club placed scheduled Saturday starter Philip Humber on the disabled list with a right elbow flexor strain. That leaves Dylan Axelrod to fill in as the White Sox resume their series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Milwaukee escaped with a 1-0, 10-inning victory in Friday's opener as Zack Greinke outdueled Chris Sale and Rickie Weeks hit the game-winning single.

Led by Sale and the powerful tandem of Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko, Chicago surged to the front of the American League Central in late May but has dropped seven of its last nine to fall back into second place, 1 1/2 games back of Cleveland. Milwaukee trails Cincinnati by 5 1/2 games in a crowded National League Central. Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun, the reigning National League MVP, has hit safely in 16 straight games.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox (national)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Randy Wolf (2-5, 5.11 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Dylan Axelrod (0-1, 3.52)

Like many pitchers on the Brewers’ staff, Wolf has been less effective away from Milwaukee, going 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in six road starts. The Brewers have lost his last four away from home, though Wolf took a no-decision in his last road outing after limiting Kansas City to one earned run over seven innings. Wolf is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in his two career starts against the White Sox.

With Humber far from perfect - both in performance and health - since throwing his perfect game April 21, Axelrod will make his first start since May 6 against the Detroit Tigers. The 26-year-old limited one of the American League's most imposing lineups to a pair of runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings. Axelrod has never faced a National League club.


WALK-OFFS

1. Dunn is 8-for-35 with a home run and 12 strikeouts against Wolf. The rest of the White Sox are 9-for-29 with just one strikeout.

2. Chicago is just 7-9 against the National League this season after winning 42 of its previous 58 interleague games.

3. Both teams have played well recently on Saturdays, with the Brewers winning 24 of their last 33 Saturday games and the White Sox winning 20 of 26.