Chicago @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 1, NY Yankees 9

The New York Yankees will need everything they can get from Derek Jeter as their pursuit of a playoff spot continues with the middle contest of a three-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Jeter, who was 3-for-23 in his first six games since returning from his latest stint on the disabled list, had a pair of RBI singles in New York's 9-1 victory Monday. The Yankees trail the Tampa Bay Rays by 2 1/2 games for the final wild card spot in the American League.

The White Sox have lost four straight to start their 10-game road trip after winning 10 of their previous 12 games and had their six-game winning streak against the Yankees snapped. New York's Hiroki Kiroda and Chicago's Chris Sale - third and seventh, respectively, in the American League in ERA - square off for the second consecutive month. Kuroda has lost three consecutive starts, while Sale owns a 0.49 ERA in 18.1 innings over five appearances (two starts) against the Yankees.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Chris Sale (10-12, 2.99 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Hiroki Kiroda (11-10, 2.89)

Sale struck out 12 in a 6-1 victory over Houston on Wednesday to set a single-season franchise record by striking out 12 or more four times. The 24-year-old, who leads the AL with four complete games - only St. Louis' Adam Wainwright has more with five - is fourth in the AL and fifth in the majors with a career-best 193 strikeouts. Sale is 2-0 against the Yankees, including a 3-2 victory Aug. 6 when he yielded one run (unearned) and struck out six while walking four in 7 1/3 innings.

Kiroda allowed seven runs (five earned) and nine hits in five innings of a 7-2 loss at Toronto on Aug. 28 after permitting seven runs and nine hits in six innings of a 7-2 setback at Tampa Bay on Aug. 23. "Every player during the course of a season goes through a little funk,'' New York manager Joe Girardi said. "You hope it’s not at a time when you can’t afford it, but it happens.” The 38-year-old native of Japan is 2-2 with a 2.86 ERA and 1.02 WHIP against Chicago, including a 3-2 loss on Aug. 6.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees SS Derek Jeter on Monday tied Eddie Collins for ninth on the career hit list with 3,313, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Jeter is six behind Paul Molitor for eighth.

2. The White Sox have the second-most errors in the American League with 96 after committing three Monday; Houston leads the major leagues with 101. Chicago made 70 in 2012, fewest in the majors.

3. The Yankees have used a record 52 players this season after LHP Cesar Cabral and C J.R. Murphy made their major-league debuts in the eighth inning Monday. Murphy recorded an infield hit pinch-hitting for Cano and Cabral allowed a single and struck out two in an inning. The previous mark of 51 was set in 2005 and 2008.

PREDICTION: White Sox 3, Yankees 2