Detroit @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2011 ) Detroit 5, Chi. White Sox 0

THE STORY: If only the Detroit Tigers could carry their current hot streak into next month. The way the Tigers are playing right now, it looks like they would be the team to beat come playoff time. Detroit, which has won 11 straight, trimmed its magic number to clinch the American League Central to four Tuesday with a 5-0 victory over the former challenger Chicago White Sox. Both the rotation and the offense have been firing on all cylinders lately, with the possible exception of Wednesday’s starter Brad Penny. He will be looking to turn things around and lead Detroit to a fourth straight series sweep when he takes the mound at Chicago on Wednesday.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, CS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Axelrod (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Brad Penny (10-10, 5.19 ERA).

Axelrod will be stepping into the rotation in place of Jake Peavy, who was shut down for the remainder of the season with shoulder fatigue. The 26-year-old Axelrod made his major league debut in relief Sept. 7, and allowed two hits in two scoreless innings against the Minnesota Twins. He went 9-3 with a 2.69 ERA in 26 games - 24 starts - across the top two levels of Chicago’s minor league system this season. If the Tigers have concerns about anything on their team at this point it is Penny, who has been lit up for a 7.17 ERA, a .344 batting average against and a .980 OPS against over his last eight starts. The Detroit offense has bailed him out in his last two turns, but Penny is likely the odd man out of the playoff rotation.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (73-74): Chicago dropped back below .500 with Tuesday’s setback and has lost eight of 13 this month to fall out of the race. While the pitching - particularly the starters - has left plenty to be desired this month, the offense can bear some of the blame as well. The White Sox have scored more than four runs in one of their eight setbacks in September. Ozzie Guillen has begun substituting regularly for his struggling veterans. Even Paul Konerko - one of the few who has performed to career norms - got a night off Tuesday.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (86-62): Not only does Detroit own a 12½-game lead in the Central, but it is two games ahead of the Texas Rangers for the No. 2 spot in the American League and home field advantage in the division series. The Tigers are averaging 8.1 runs during their winning streak and could have the division officially sewn up by the weekend. Victor Martinez hit a three-run homer Tuesday and has 17 RBIs in his last nine games for a total of 94. Miguel Cabrera drove in his 97th run Tuesday and is making a late run at the AL batting title. His .332 mark is good for third in the league, trailing Boston’s Adrian Gonzalez (.340) and Texas’ Michael Young (.333).

FINAL PITCH: All of Guillen’s coaches are on the final year of their contracts and there has been speculation lately that a few of them could be gone at season’s end. Hitting coach Greg Walker had an argument with general manager Kenny Williams become public last month, and is getting some blame from fans and media for the offensive struggles of the club.