Boston @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2011 ) Boston 1, Chi. White Sox 3

THE STORY: If the Chicago White Sox could play the Boston Red Sox every day, they might be on top of the American League Central instead of fighting for .500. One of the few teams to solve the Red Sox this season, the White Sox improved to 4-0 against their colorful counterparts with Friday's 3-1 victory and the teams meet again Saturday night at U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago needs all the wins it can get, with the American League Central race tightening at the top. Boston is in its own division race with New York, though the loser will likely end up making the playoffs.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NESN, WGN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (10-4, 3.23 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Philip Humber (8-6, 3.27 ERA).

Lester came off the 15-day disabled list Monday and looked sharp against the Kansas City Royals, allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings. The All-Star lefty was removed after 89 pitches and did not factor in the decision. Lester suffered through his worst start of the season against Chicago on May 30, surrendering seven runs in 5 2/3 innings to absorb the loss. He is 2-3 with a 5.94 ERA in six career starts against the White Sox. With Chicago having six starting pitchers at the time, Humber was skipped in his last turn. Now that Edwin Jackson has been shipped out, Humber figures to go back to regular work. The righthander probably could have used the time off after losing his last two starts while allowing 10 runs and 18 hits in 9 1/3 innings. He earned a win against Boston on May 31, yielding four runs in 7 2/3 frames.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (52-52): Gavin Floyd shut down the vaunted Boston lineup Friday, holding the major league scoring leaders to just three hits in a 3-1 triumph. Chicago managed only three hits of its own but made one count, as A.J. Pierzynski poked a two-run homer in the seventh. The victory brought the White Sox back to .500 for the first time since July 3 and kept them within three games of the first-place Tigers. Chicago has already made a big deal this week, trading away Jackson and bringing in reliever Jason Frasor. If they decided to sell, reports are that teams have approached the White Sox about outfielder Carlos Quentin among others. Chicago has won 14 of its last 16 meetings with the Red Sox.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (64-40): Tim Wakefield was denied his 200th career win Friday as the top six hitters in the lineup combined to go 0-for-20. Dustin Pedroia went 0-for-4, snapping his hitting streak at 25 games. Combined with a loss to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday afternoon, Friday’s setback marked the first time this month that Boston has dropped back-to-back games. The Red Sox totaled four runs in the last two games after putting up 25 in the previous two. Boston remains two games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East.

FINAL PITCH: MVP candidate Adrian Gonzalez was a late scratch from Friday’s game for Boston due to neck stiffness. The All-Star slugger also missed a game on July 6 due to a stiff neck - the only two he has sat out this season. The major-league leader in batting average (.352) and RBIs (87), Gonzalez expects to be back Saturday.