Minnesota @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2011 ) Minnesota 6, Chi. White Sox 8

THE STORY: The Chicago White Sox have matched their season high with a five-game win streak and remain five games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. The White Sox will send Jake Peavy to the mound Wednesday against the visiting Minnesota Twins to try and finish a three-game sweep before a critical series at Detroit. Chicago gave up five runs in the first four games of the streak and received 4 1/3 innings of hit-less relief Tuesday. The Twins, who are 1-9 in their last 10, have dropped a franchise record 21 games in August and there is one more to go. The previous high was 20 in 1997.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET; FS-NO (Minnesota) and WGN (Chicago).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Scott Diamond (0-2, 4.97 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Jake Peavy (6-6, 4.93 ERA).

Diamond will make his third major-league start. He has allowed nine runs – seven earned – in 12 2/3 innings in his first two outings. Diamond, from Canada, has four strikeouts and three walks. He was 4-14 at Triple-A Rochester with a 5.56 ERA before being recalled.

Peavy defeated Seattle in his last start, allowing two runs over six innings. He is 2-2 with a 4.27 ERA in August. Peavy gave up just three hits to shut out the Twins over eight innings Aug. 7. He lost to Minnesota July 7. Peavy is 1-1 in four career outings against the Twins, with a 3.24 ERA in 25 innings.

ABOUT THE TWINS (56-79): Joe Mauer was back in the lineup as a designated hitter Tuesday, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Mauer was 7-for-16 in the four games before missing a week with a neck injury. The Twins’ other top hitter Justin Morneau is out indefinitely a mild concussion. He had been 7-for-17 in five games through Sunday. Jason Kubel has two homers and six RBIs the last three games. Danny Valencia had his nine-game hit streak snapped Tuesday, going 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (68-65): Alejandro De Aza is making the best of his chance. The 27-year old outfielder is 16-for-44 with eight extra-base hits and 11 RBIs the last 12 games. In addition, Dayan Viciedo is 5-for-9 with four RBIs since his recall from the minors when Carlos Quentin went on the disabled list. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez is 6-for-14 the last three games and first baseman Paul Konerko is 6-for-14 the last four for the Sox, who have scored seven or more runs seven times in August – twice in the last three games. Closer Sergio Santos (28 saves) has allowed just one run in his last 17 appearances.

FINAL PITCH: White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski and pitcher Phillip Humber both started their rehab assignments at Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday. Pierzynski, on the disabled list for the first time in his career, had a fractured wrist and Humber a facial contusion.