Orioles-White Sox Preview

Coming out of the All-Star break, the Chicago White Sox are looking for a little consistency at home as they try to make a run at a second consecutive AL Central title. A strong outing by ace Mark Buehrle would help, too.

Buehrle will try to rebound from his worst performance of the season Friday night when the White Sox open a three-game series against the last-place Baltimore Orioles at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chicago (45-43) is second in the Central, 3 1/2 games behind Detroit, but only one-half game ahead of Minnesota.

"Let's face it, we are in a division where we have a couple of teams right with us," designated hitter Jim Thome told the White Sox's official Web site. "It's hard not to scoreboard watch early, but you have to understand that every game becomes important."

Following a season-high seven-game winning streak, the White Sox failed to improve their division standing by losing five of eight -- including 13-7 on Sunday to the Twins. They've also posted a 22-21 home record after going 54-28 there last year, when they made the playoffs for the first time since winning the 2005 World Series.

"Looking at the whole big picture of the first half, we are in good shape for the second half," first baseman Paul Konerko said. "In general, we are climbing."

Buehrle (9-3, 3.66 ERA), the team leader in wins, ERA and innings pitched (118), will try to help Chicago get off to a strong start to its second half after he threw a perfect third inning on nine pitches as the AL won Tuesday's All-Star game 4-3.

The left-hander wasn't nearly that effective in his last trip to the mound for the White Sox on Sunday, lasting a season-low 3 1/3 innings while getting pounded for eight runs and 10 hits -- three homers. That performance came after he went 3-0 with a 2.91 ERA in his five previous starts, all Chicago victories.

"This year, I don't remember seeing Buehrle have trouble like he did (Sunday)," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He had trouble against the wrong team in the wrong ballpark. That's what you're going to get."

Buehrle looks to bounce back in his first start against the Orioles (40-48) this season. He's 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 12 games -- 10 starts -- against them, going 3-0 with a 2.27 ERA in his last five matchups at home.

Chicago dropped two of three at Baltimore from April 21-23, and the clubs have split the last eight meetings at U.S. Cellular.

Baltimore seeks a fifth win in six games after closing out the first half with a 4-2 victory over Toronto on Sunday.

"I've seen improvement from the younger players," manager Dave Trembley told the Orioles' official Web site. "I've seen, as a team, the ability to come back. The areas to improve would be general fundamentals. Obviously, our starting pitching is going to have to pull its weight."

Rookie Jason Berken (1-6, 5.87), who gets his first start against Chicago, has struggled to adjust to the majors. He's 0-6 with a 6.15 ERA in eight starts after winning his major league debut against the Blue Jays on May 26.

The right-hander showed some improvement last Friday, allowing two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 2-0 loss to Toronto.