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May 26, 2010 - 3:35 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Chicago (19-25) at Cleveland (16-27), 12:05 p.m. EDT

Chicago White Sox starter Mark Buehrle said facing an NL opponent in his previous start, rather than an AL Central rival, helped him avoid his longest losing streak in four years.

Buehrle won't be as fortunate in his next outing.

In his attempt to win back-to-back starts for the second time this season, Buehrle will take on the Cleveland Indians, the only division rival against which he has a losing record.

After opening the season with consecutive wins, Buehrle (3-5, 4.55 ERA) was 0-5 with a 6.44 ERA in his previous six starts before facing Florida at home Friday night. He ended his skid by allowing three hits over eight innings of an 8-0 win.

"I feel it's to my advantage because a lot of these guys I have not seen," Buehrle said. "To be honest with you, I get sick of facing Kansas City and Cleveland. Guys got 100 at bats against me, what else are you going to throw?"

Buehrle won't be able to avoid the Indians (17-27) as the White Sox (19-26) close a three-game series at Progressive Field. It will be the left-hander's third start against Cleveland in 10 total outings this season.

Buehrle held the Indians to three hits over seven innings on opening day, taking a 6-0 home win. On April 16, he gave up six runs - three earned - over six frames in a 6-2 loss in Cleveland.

He's split his last eight starts versus the Indians but is 2-5 with a 6.04 ERA in his last nine at Progressive Field. Buehrle is 69-49 with a 3.85 ERA in 149 career starts against AL Central opponents, and 11-15 with a 4.58 ERA in 38 versus the Indians.

He'll try to improve those numbers while leading the White Sox to their first road series victory this season. Jake Westbrook (2-2, 4.56), meanwhile, will try to help Cleveland win its first home series since sweeping Chicago on April 16-18.

The right-hander, though, has dropped four straight to the White Sox, including the season opener against Buehrle. Westbrook gave up five runs over four innings in that game. He did not get a decision at home against Chicago on April 17 despite allowing two runs over seven innings.

Westbrook escaped without a decision in Friday's 7-4 loss to Cincinnati after Shin-Soo Choo hit a tying two-run homer in his final inning. Westbrook, in position to win three straight decisions for the first time since the end of the 2006 season, gave up four runs and seven hits over five innings.

"I didn't do my job to let those runs score," he told the Indians' official website. "I got behind some guys and made a few mistakes."

The Indians, 3-10 at home this month, haven't made many mistakes against the White Sox this season, winning six of eight. In Tuesday night's 7-3 victory, Choo and Jason Donald homered in a three-run third inning, and Travis Hafner extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a 2-for-4 performance.

Hafner, batting .378 (17 for 45) during that run, has faced Buehrle more than any other pitcher in his career, going 12 for 58 (.207).