Chicago @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 11, 2011 ) Chi. White Sox 6, LA Angels 4

THE STORY: A pair of teams still clinging to playoff hopes in the American League square off when the Chicago White Sox head to Anaheim on Tuesday night for the first of two games with the Los Angeles Angels. The White Sox are 5 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central, while the Angels have won four straight to creep within 4 1/2 games of Texas in the AL West. Tuesday's game features a matchup between two of the league's hottest starting pitchers in Mark Buehrle and Ervin Santana.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), Fox Sports West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Mark Buehrle (10-6, 3.14 ERA) vs. Angels RH Ervin Santana (9-9, 3.12 ERA).

Buehrle has been one of the most reliable starters in the American League – his Aug. 17 loss at Cleveland marked the first time his last 19 starts that he allowed more than three runs. Prior to that setback, Buehrle had turned in eight straight quality starts and gone unbeaten since June 16. He lost to the Angels on Wednesday, allowing four runs in seven innings and dropping his career record against Los Angeles to 2-7. Angels LF Vernon Wells is 20-for-41 (.488) with eight RBIs against Buehrle.

Santana proved mortal in a loss to Texas (7.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 3 ER) on Wednesday, but he had been arguably the hottest pitcher in the game prior to that defeat. In five previous starts, Santana had pitched three complete games – including a July 27 no-hitter at Cleveland – and gone 5-0 with an 0.84 ERA. He owns a lifetime record of 4-4 against the White Sox, including a blowout loss on May 9 (6 IP, 9 H, 5 ER). Chicago 1B Paul Konerko is just 5-for-26 with seven strikeouts against Santana.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (69-59): Los Angeles appeared to be fading from contention in the American League West before turning things around over the weekend. A struggling offense found its groove, scoring 24 runs in a three-game sweep of Baltimore, but it has been pitching that has carried the club this season. The Angels lead the American League in ERA (3.47). RHP Jered Weaver (14-6, 2.10) is a Cy Young candidate and RHP Dan Haren (13-6, 2.98) has been outstanding all season.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (63-63): Chicago has stayed within range in a tight AL Central race by winning 11 of its last 16 games, rebounding from a brief three-game skid with back-to-back wins over Texas. The team has been carried all year long by two veteran mainstays in Buehrle and Konerko, who leads the White Sox in batting average (.317), home runs (28) and RBIs (85). RF Carlos Quentin (24 HR, 77 RBIs), the team's other top power source, is day-to-day with a shoulder injury. An MRI exam Sunday revealed a sprained AC joint.

FINAL PITCH: The Angels are 4-2 against Chicago in 2011, but the White Sox have controlled the series over the past few seasons, winning 20 of the last 28 games.