Detroit @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 17, 2011 ) Chi. White Sox 3, Detroit 4

THE STORY: American League Central contenders square off when first-place Detroit travels to Chicago on Monday for the opener of a three-game series with the White Sox. The Tigers hold a two-game lead over Cleveland after topping Minnesota 5-2 on Sunday, while the third-place White Sox remained 4 1/2 back after stealing a 4-2 victory against the Indians. Detroit has won six of nine against Chicago this season, though the White Sox took two of three on the road July 15-17.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports (Detroit), Comcast Sports (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Duane Below (0-0, 1.80) vs. White Sox LH Mark Buehrle (7-5, 3.38).

Below fared reasonably well in his major league debut July 20 against Oakland, allowing just one run on five hits in five innings. He threw 77 pitches, striking out two and walking one, and he may be on a similarly short leash Monday. Below had gone 9-4 with a 3.13 ERA at Triple-A Toledo, including a 5-1 mark and 2.60 ERA over his final eight starts. The Michigan native missed most of the 2009 season after undergoing surgery on his left elbow. Buehrle has been his usual reliable self since struggling in early April, going 6-2 with a 2.62 ERA since the start of May. He has split a pair of starts against the Tigers, suffering a blowout road loss April 22 (5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 6 ER) and picking up a home win June 3 (6 IP, 10 H, 3 ER). Buehrle is 17-9 with a 3.22 ERA in 32 career games (31 starts) against Detroit, but he has struggled against ex-teammate Magglio Ordonez (16-for-35) and Victor Martinez (23-for-69, 4 HRs, 12 RBIs).

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (49-51): Chicago has remained within striking distance in the AL Central race despite a historically bad season from Adam Dunn, who went 0-for-4 Sunday to drop his average to .160. Dunn has struck out 126 times in 293 at-bats. Fortunately for the White Sox, there have been other bright spots, particularly Paul Konerko (.307, 22 HRs, 70 RBIs) and Carlos Quentin (.266, 20 HRs, 60 RBIs).

ABOUT THE TIGERS (54-47): Detroit has won five of its last seven to regain the top spot after briefly falling behind Cleveland to start the second half. The Tigers have been unable to pull away, largely because of an inconsistent pitching staff that ranks 24th in the majors with a 4.21 ERA. The only constants have been Justin Verlander (13-5, 2.24), who leads the AL in strikeouts (162) and WHIP (0.88), and closer Jose Valverde, who has converted all 26 of his save opportunities.

FINAL PITCH: Chicago righthander Philip Humber, who leads the team's starters in ERA (3.27), was originally scheduled to start Monday but moved into the bullpen for the time being because Saturday's rainout bumped Edwin Jackson's start to Sunday.