Cleveland @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2011 ) Cleveland 8, Chi. White Sox 4

THE STORY: It is only a matter of time until the Detroit Tigers clinch the American League Central title. That leaves the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians fighting for second place. Chicago leads Cleveland by a half-game going into Saturday's game in Chicago. The White Sox have won eight of 12 against the Indians this season despite Friday's 8-4 loss. Lonnie Chisenhall hit a pair of two-run homers to send Mark Buehrle to his second straight defeat.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Fox

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Fausto Carmona (6-14, 5.18 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Philip Humber (9-8, 3.45).

Carmona lasted 1 1/3 innings Tuesday against the Tigers, the shortest outing by an Indians starter this season. He allowed seven runs, including five in the first. Since Carmona threw only 41 pitches, he was moved up a day in the rotation. He allowed one run in 8 1/3 innings against the White Sox last month, but gave up 18 runs and 18 hits in eight innings in his first two starts versus Chicago. Paul Konerko is hitting .389 (7-for-18) with two homers and nine RBIs lifetime against Carmona. Humber's last start against the Indians on Aug. 18 ended when he was struck above the right eye by Kosuke Fukudome's line drive in the second inning. Humber wasn't seriously injured, but was placed on the disabled list the following day. He made his first start since the injury on Monday against the Twins and pitched seven shutout innings with six strikeouts in a 2-1 win for his first victory since July 2. Humber hasn't had a decision against Cleveland in his career.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (71-71): Matt LaPorta has been called up from Triple A Columbus, but his future with the team is uncertain. The fact LaPorta was sent down when the Indians still had a chance to win the division shows how little the organization thinks of his season. He is batting .238 with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs in 97 games, but that doesn't tell the entire story. The Indians needed LaPorta to provide production from the right side, but he is hitting .205 with one homer in 78 at-bats against lefthanders. LaPorta was acquired for CC Sabathia in 2008, but that might not be enough to keep him in a Cleveland uniform beyond this season.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (72-71): A lack of clutch hitting is one of the main reasons Chicago hasn't been able to stay in the division race. The White Sox were 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 runners in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to Minnesota. That season-long trend stopped for one night Thursday in the seventh inning when Brent Morel hit a three-run homer and Konerko belted a grand slam. Chicago reverted to form Friday night by going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The White Sox have been near the bottom of the league in runs scored all season and any timely hitting is coming too late.

FINAL PITCH: The White Sox are 9 1/2 games behind the Tigers in the AL Central while the Indians trail by 10 games.