Cleveland @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2011 ) Cleveland 7, Chi. White Sox 8

THE STORY: A streaking Mark Buehrle faces a slumping Fausto Carmona as the Chicago White Sox resume their American League Central division tilt with the visiting Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. Buehrle has been one of the stingiest hurlers in the majors over the past three months, while Carmona is among the league leaders in losses.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), WCIU (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Fausto Carmona (5-12, 5.12 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Mark Buehrle (10-5, 3.06 ERA)

Carmona hasn't been good all season, though he has shown modest improvement since the All-Star break, going 1-2 with a 3.03 earned-run average in five starts. The 27-year-old lost his previous outing despite allowing just three earned runs over seven strong innings in a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Detroit Tigers. Carmona is 7-5 in 15 career games against Chicago.

Buehrle has been on a tear of late, winning his last four decisions while going without a defeat since June 16. The 32-year-old hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in a game over his last 18 outings, one of the most impressive runs in the majors this season. Buehrle is quite familiar with the Indians, going 14-15 in 43 career starts against them.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (60-58): Cleveland has traditionally given Buehrle the most trouble of any AL Central opponent. His 14 victories against the Indians are the fewest of any divisional foe, and he has a combined record of 66-39 against Detroit, Kansas City and Minnesota. Yet the present Cleveland roster is batting just .249 against him. Two of the longest-standing Indians have had their share of problems with the 11-year major-league veteran. Travis Hafner is a career .238 hitter against Buehrle with two homers and 10 runs batted in over 63 at-bats, while Grady Sizemore is hitting .217 with four homers in 69 at-bats.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (61-60): Paul Konerko may not his 600 home runs like his former teammate Jim Thome, but the veteran first baseman is carving out a solid career of his own. He remains one of the most productive corner infielders in baseball even at age 35, hitting .316 with 27 homers and 83 runs driven in. He's batting .413 (19-for-46) during his current 12-game hitting streak, one shy of his season high. Konerko has dominated Carmona in their head-to-head meeting, going 7-for-15 with two home runs, nine RBIs and six walks. The Chicago roster is hitting a collective .262 against Wednesday's starter.

FINAL PITCH: Buehrle last faced the Indians on Opening Day, allowing four runs over six innings as the White Sox prevailed 15-10. He also defeated them on the final day of the 2010 season.