Toronto @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2012 ) Toronto 0, Chi. White Sox 2

The addition of Kevin Youkilis has sparked the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox, who have won nine of 12 games since acquiring the former Boston third baseman. Youkilis is 14-for-45 with three home runs and 13 RBIs with Chicago, and his two-run homer Saturday accounted for all of the offense in a 2-0 win over the Blue Jays. Toronto has dropped three straight to remain at the bottom of the AL East, 9 1/2 games behind New York.

The Blue Jays have floundered despite one of the most potent offenses in the major leagues. Right fielder Jose Bautista shares the major-league lead with Texas' Josh Hamilton with 27 home runs and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (22 homers, 56 RBIs) is enjoying a career year. Chicago has been led by a strong pitching rotation that features Jake Peavy and Chris Sale, and first baseman Paul Konerko is among the AL leaders with a .333 batting average. The White Sox lead the season series with Toronto 3-2.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Brett Cecil (2-1, 5.64 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Dylan Axelrod (0-1, 4.91)

Since joining the rotation in mid-June, Cecil has turned in only one poor start (5 1/3 innings, 10 hits, eight runs against the Los Angeles Angels), but Toronto has won his other three starts, which saw him allow a total of six runs on 15 hits in 17 innings. The left-hander has split a pair of earlier career outings against Chicago - a win in 2009 and a loss in 2010 - with three runs allowed in each contest.

Though the White Sox have won his last three starts, Axelrod hasn’t exactly been overpowering, giving up 11 runs in only 18 innings during that stretch. He has been particularly vulnerable at U.S. Cellular Field, where he owns a 6.28 ERA in four games (two starts). As luck would have it, though, Axelrod’s lone major league win came against Toronto last September (six shutout innings, three hits, two walks, six strikeouts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Saturday’s win over Toronto southpaw Ricky Romero was only Chicago’s third in its last nine games against left-handed starters.

2. The White Sox have won seven straight home games and are 5-1 in Axelrod’s last six starts.

3. Toronto’s Casey Janssen is perfect in 11 save situations since taking over the closer’s role, allowing only two hits and a walk in 10 2/3 shutout innings while striking out 11.