New York @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2012 ) NY Yankees 6, Chi. White Sox 9

Not that they have much reason to panic, but the New York Yankees’ lead in the American League East has shrunk to four games - its lowest point since June 29. The Chicago White Sox, who handed the Yankees a loss on Monday, have only a two-game lead in the AL Central and have been playing pressure-packed baseball since the All-Star break while the Yankees have been in cruise control.

New York has won nine of its last 13 games but is trying to fight off a charge from the Tampa Bay Rays while giving their stars enough time to get healthy. Mark Teixeira returned from a three-game absence Monday and CC Sabathia could make his return to the rotation this weekend. The one consistent performer for the Yankees all season has been Derek Jeter, who is 7-for-9 in the last two games. The White Sox can slug it almost as well as New York and benefited from four home runs on Monday.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), CS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Ivan Nova (11-6, 4.76 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Francisco Liriano (4-10, 5.22)

Nova has been off his game of late, posting a 1-2 record with an 8.49 ERA in his last four starts. The 25-year old right-hander issued four walks and was pounded for four runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings in a no decision against Texas last week. Nova was sharp against Chicago on June 28, surrendering one run in 7 1/3 innings, and owns a 2-0 record with a 1.33 ERA in four career starts vs. the White Sox. Adam Dunn, the major league home run leader with 36, is 0-for-7 in his career against Nova.

Liriano earned his first win since joining Chicago at Toronto last week when he held the Blue Jays to two runs on three hits while striking out six over 6 1/3 innings. The veteran left-hander has allowed two runs or less in three of his four turns for the White Sox. Liriano was crushed by the Yankees as a member of the Minnesota Twins earlier in the season, yielding five runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. He is 1-4 with a 4.02 ERA in eight career games against New York.

WALK-OFFS

1. Former Yankee OF Dewayne Wise has three homers in eight games since rejoining the White Sox.

2. Chicago CF Alejandro De Aza has missed three straight games with a sore back.

3. Jeter is tied with Hall of Famer Eddie Murray for 12th on the all-time hit list with 3,255. He is 28 hits away from tying Willie Mays.