Detroit @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2011 ) Detroit 3, Chi. White Sox 6

THE STORY: An American League Central race that has gotten closer by the day could tighten yet again when the Chicago White Sox host Detroit in the second game of a three-game series on Tuesday night. Chicago, currently sitting in third place, moved to within 3 1/2 games of the Tigers by taking Monday's series opener, 6-3. Carlos Quentin keyed a three-run fifth inning with a two-run double that put the White Sox in front for good. Detroit will try to counter by sending ace Justin Verlander to the mound on Tuesday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (13-5, 2.24) vs. White Sox RH Jake Peavy (4-4, 5.19)

Verlander has been the stopper for an otherwise unreliable Detroit rotation, delivering 20 of the team's 57 quality starts and leading the American League in strikeouts (162), innings pitched (165 1/3) and WHIP (0.88). He has given up just nine earned runs in his last nine starts — but four of those came in a July 15 loss to the White Sox, who he had beaten twice earlier this season. 1B Paul Konerko has struggled horribly against Verlander, going 5-for-42 (.119) with 13 strikeouts.

Since delivering a masterful four-inning relief win on June 25, Peavy has been unable to get back into a rhythm, allowing 17 runs in 22 1/3 innings over four starts (including three straight losses). He also struggled in his lone outing this year against Detroit, giving up six runs over four innings in a June 5 home loss. Peavy has been masterful against Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera, striking him out 10 times while allowing just two hits in 23 at-bats.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (54-48): Detroit has managed to hold on to the division lead despite posting a 10-10 record thus far in July. The problem has seldom been offense, as 1B Miguel Cabrera (.314, 21 HR, 65 RBIs), SS Jhonny Peralta (.322, 16 HR, 60 RBIs) and C/DH Victor Martinez (.320, 57 RBIs) have paced a lineup that has scored 455 runs while ranking fourth in the major leagues with a .265 batting average. The pitching staff has struggled, with the exceptions of Verlander and closer Jose Valverde (26 saves).

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (50-51): Though they haven't seen the .500 mark since July 4 and haven't been above it since April 15, the White Sox have slowly crept back into the thick of the division race, thanks in large part to an improved performance from their bullpen. Chicago relievers were atrocious in April, blowing six saves in the first 12 games of 2011, but the unit has been one of the best in baseball recently, sporting a 1.17 ERA (7 ER/54.0 IP) in their last 20 games.

FINAL PITCH: White Sox hitters have drawn just 290 walks, the fifth-lowest total in the major leagues, but only Texas has fewer strikeouts than Chicago's 602.