Seattle @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2012 ) Seattle 4, Chi. White Sox 5

Few teams understand the benefits of home-field advantage more than the Seattle Mariners, who carried an eight-game winning streak into their weekend series with the Chicago White Sox. But U.S. Cellular Field has been a house of horrors for the Mariners, who will try to avoid a three-game sweep in Sunday's series finale. The White Sox have won five straight to maintain a 2 1/2-game lead atop the American League Central and deal a serious blow to Seattle's long-shot wild card hopes.

Chicago, which is 7-1 against the Mariners this season, is seeking to complete a perfect six-game homestand before hitting the road for seven games at Baltimore and Detroit. The White Sox have scored 32 runs during the winning streak and have extended their hex over Seattle, winning 23 of the last 27 meetings overall and 18 of the last 21 at home. Alexei Ramirez is 3-for-7 with a homer and four RBIs in the series to extend his hitting streak to five games.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), CSN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Kevin Millwood (4-10, 4.29 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Gavin Floyd (9-9, 4.56)

Millwood is winless in his last four outings even though he is coming off solid back-to-back starts that have yielded a pair of no-decisions. The veteran righty allowed three runs in six innings against Cleveland last time out to follow up a seven-inning stint against Tampa Bay in which he gave up two runs. He's had little success against the White Sox, posting a 1-7 record and 3.82 ERA in 13 starts.

Floyd is 1-0 in his last four starts even though he's been shaky, allowing 15 runs in 20 2/3 innings during that span. He lasted only 2 1/3 innings last time out against the New York Yankees, giving up three runs and walking four. Floyd went five innings against Seattle on June 2 and did not factor in the decision after allowing five runs and nine hits in five innings. He's 4-4 in 15 appearances (13 starts) vs. Seattle.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox DH Adam Dunn, who leads the majors with 38 homers, is 9-for-22 with six homers against Millwood.

2. Mariners CF Michael Saunders (groin) missed Saturday's game after colliding with right fielder Eric Thames on Paul Konerko's walk-off hit in Friday's series opener.

3. Chicago LF Dayan Viciedo was a late scratch prior to Saturday's game due to soreness in his right shoulder.