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White Sox-Tigers Preview

Sep 5, 2010 - 11:34 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Chicago (75-60) at Detroit (68-68), 1:05 p.m. EDT

The Chicago White Sox were hoping Edwin Jackson would be a solid addition to the rotation when they acquired him at the trade deadline. So far, he has been much better than that.

Making his third start against the Detroit Tigers - his former team - since joining the White Sox, Jackson will try to help Chicago extend its road winning streak to seven when the clubs open a four-game series Monday.

Jackson has gone 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA in five starts since arriving from Arizona on July 30, pitching at least seven innings four times. He struck out 11 and gave up three runs over 8 2-3 innings of a 4-3 win at Cleveland on Tuesday.

Jackson, who won his second straight start, became the first White Sox starter with double-digit strikeouts in three consecutive outings since Floyd Bannister in 1985.

"It's like a new season for me, a fresh start, a fresh team," he said. "I want to go as long as I can every game, whether the bullpen is fresh or beat up."

Jackson, an All-Star with the Tigers in 2009, is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts against Detroit since joining Chicago. In his White Sox debut Aug. 4, threw seven innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts in a 4-1 victory at Comerica Park.

The White Sox (76-60), winners of four of five at Detroit this season, improved to 6-0 on a 10-game trip with a 7-5 win over Boston on Sunday. Chicago scored four two-out runs in the ninth inning and completed its first three-game sweep at Fenway Park since 1991.

"I don't want to say this could be the biggest game for us, but the happiest with how we did it," said manager Ozzie Guillen, whose team trails division-leading Minnesota by 3 1/2 games.

Chicago last won seven in a row on the road June 20-July 3, 2009.

The Tigers (68-69) have won six of seven at Comerica following a 5-12 stretch at home.

Coming off a 5-5 trip that ended with a 2-1 loss to Kansas City on Sunday, Detroit opens its seven-game homestand with Max Scherzer (10-9, 3.45) on the mound. The right-hander, acquired in a three-team offseason deal that sent Jackson to the Diamondbacks, is 3-1 with a 1.25 ERA in his last seven starts.

In what he called one of the best games of his career, Scherzer threw a career-high nine innings and allowed one run in a 2-1, 10-inning loss at Minnesota on Wednesday.

"He's one of the better pitchers in the league," manager Jim Leyland said.

Scherzer is 0-1 with a 3.14 ERA in two starts against Chicago this season.

He will face Manny Ramirez for the first time in a White Sox uniform. Ramirez, 4 for 11 since being claimed off waivers from Los Angeles on Tuesday, is expected to return to the lineup after pinch-hitting Sunday. He is 4 for 11 with a homer against Scherzer.

White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, batting .421 with two homers and five RBIs at Detroit this season, is two RBIs shy of reaching 100 for the first time since 2006. He is expected to be in the lineup after leaving Sunday's game with lower back stiffness.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera has not fared as well in five home games against Chicago, hitting .153 with no RBIs. Cabrera is 4 for 14 lifetime versus Jackson.

The White Sox lead the season series 7-4.