Los Angeles @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2012 ) LA Angels 6, Chi. White Sox 5

American League Central leader Chicago had won eight of its last 10 games, including an 8-6 walk-off thriller in Friday’s series opener, before falling in extra innings Saturday 6-5. The Los Angeles Angels, who had lost three in a row, blew an early lead before prevailing on Howie Kendrick’s 10th-inning RBI single. The White Sox remain 1 1/2 games ahead of Detroit in the Central, while Los Angeles leads the Tigers by one-half game in the race for the AL’s second wild-card spot. Chicago has split its season series with the Angels thus far 2-2.

Los Angeles rookie outfielder Mike Trout is positioning himself as a potential Most Valuable Player, batting an AL-best .349, leading the major leagues with 33 stolen bases and robbing two opposing hitters of home runs - including Chicago’s Gordon Beckham on Saturday. Chicago has five players with at least 16 home runs, paced by 31 from major league leader Adam Dunn. Kevin Youkilis, who hit a pair of round-trippers Saturday, has eight since joining the White Sox in late June.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), CS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Dan Haren (8-8, 4.59 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Francisco Liriano (3-10, 5.18)

Haren appears to be OK after being scratched from his last start with back trouble. He had been rounding into shape prior to that setback, allowing only three runs in six innings over his last two starts after suffering through a nightmarish stretch in June and early July (27 innings, 43 hits, 27 runs). Haren is 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox.

Acquired in a trade with Minnesota just over a week ago, Liriano took a no-decision in his first start with Chicago, pitching six innings against his former team (four hits, two runs, four walks, eight strikeouts). Like Haren, he has endured some rough stretches this season, but does have six quality starts in his last nine outings. Liriano is 1-4 with a 7.44 ERA against the Angels, including a loss May 1.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles hitters are a combined 36-for-108 (.333) against Liriano, with Kendrick (7-for-13, homer) and Maicer Izturis (4-for-8, three RBIs) among those doing the most damage.

2. The White Sox had lost only once in their previous 12 home games before Saturday; Los Angeles won for only the fifth time in its last 15 road contests.

3. Chicago C A.J. Pierzynski (5-for-14) has had success against Haren, while Youkilis is 3-for-16 with four strikeouts.