Toronto @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 7, 2012 ) Toronto 3, Chi. White Sox 4

The Chicago White Sox have been holding their ground atop a tight American League Central, finally bumping their home record over the .500 mark with a three-game sweep of Texas. After exploding for three wins of seven runs or more in its previous six games, Chicago capped the series with a pair of one-run victories. Toronto, meanwhile, is last in the AL East despite a winning record. The Blue Jays took two of three games from the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field in early June.

Chicago has gotten a major boost from the acquisition of former Boston star Kevin Youkilis, going 7-3 since his arrival. Youkilis is batting 12-for-39 (.308) with two homers for the White Sox, beating Texas on Wednesday with a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning. This weekend’s series features two of the top home run hitters in the game - Toronto’s Jose Bautista leads the major leagues with 27 homers and Chicago’s Adam Dunn is third with 25.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), Comcast Sports Plus (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Aaron Laffey (0-0, 2.14 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Jake Peavy (6-5, 2.96 ERA)

Since joining the Blue Jays in mid-June, Laffey has provided a lift both in relief and in his two spot starts, which saw him limit foes to two earned runs on seven hits in 12 innings. He hasn’t gotten much help - Toronto has lost five of the six games he appeared in, including both starts. Laffey, who sports a WHIP of 0.81, is 3-3 with a 3.02 ERA in 14 career outings against Chicago.

Peavy has dropped four consecutive starts, almost entirely because his teammates have totaled just two runs in those games. He has given up nine earned runs over 30 innings during that stretch, striking out 29 and walking just four. The veteran right-hander is 1-0 with a 5.03 ERA in three lifetime starts against Toronto, including a no-decision June 7.

WALK-OFFS

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

2. Excluding veteran Omar Vizquel (8-for-34), Toronto hitters are just 9-for-55 (.164) against Peavy. Bautista is 1-for-12 with two walks and three strikeouts.

3. Youkilis, who is 2-for-4 in his career against Laffey, has go-ahead RBIs in four consecutive games, the longest such streak by any player in the majors this season.