Chicago @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 29, 2012 ) Boston 1, Chi. White Sox 4

Kevin Youkilis returns to Fenway Park in a Chicago uniform as the White Sox visit the Boston Red Sox in Monday’s opener of a four-game series. Youkilis was traded to Chicago on June 24 after being a fan favorite during parts of nine seasons with Boston and playing on two World Series championship teams. But manager Bobby Valentine criticized Youkilis in April and a major rift ensued before Youkilis was eventually shipped to the White Sox.

Boston could have outfielder Carl Crawford in the lineup for the first time this season after wrist surgery. Jacoby Ellsbury went 6-for-14 as the Red Sox took two of three in Tampa Bay in his first action since dislocating a shoulder in mid-April. The first-place White Sox have won seven of nine games and lead the Detroit Tigers by 3 1/2 games in the American League Central. Slugger Adam Dunn has homered in three straight games and leads the majors with 28 blasts. Dylan Axelrod starts for Chicago in place of Gavin Floyd, who was scratched due to elbow and forearm soreness. That rates as good news for Boston as Floyd is 7-0 with a 3.21 ERA against the Red Sox.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Axelrod (1-2, 6.16 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Aaron Cook (2-2, 4.37)

Axelrod threw 31 pitches in two scoreless innings of relief Friday against the Kansas City Royals. This will be his sixth start of the season. Axelrod has allowed seven homers in just 30 2/3 innings. He gave up one run in 2 1/3 innings of relief against Boston in April.

Cook is making his fifth start of the season. He allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings while losing to the Oakland Athletics in his last start. Cook is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two career starts against Chicago.

WALK-OFFS

1. Youkilis is batting .295 with 15 RBIs in 16 games with the White Sox. He had just 14 RBIs in 42 games with Boston.

2. Red Sox 1B Adrian Gonzalez played Sunday despite back spasms after missing the previous two games. He had two hits and his 46th RBI.

3. Chicago INF Orlando Hudson is batting .415 in 41 career at-bats against Cook.