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Red-hot Indians face lowly White Sox

Sep 11, 2007 - 2:41 PM Cleveland (84-60) at Chi White Sox (61-83) 8:11 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians' stellar play down the stretch has helped them all but lock up the American League Central Division.

Paul Byrd takes the mound Tuesday as the Indians aim for their 15th win in the last 18 games when they take on the Chicago White Sox.

Cleveland, which has not made the playoffs since 2001, holds a six-game lead over the defending AL champion Detroit Tigers (78-66) in the AL Central.

Byrd (14-6, 4.34 ERA) tossed a four-hitter on September 1 vs. Chicago, which has lost 21 of its last 28 games and is tied with Tampa Bay for the worst mark in baseball.

Byrd had his five-game winning streak snapped on Thursday when he allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 10-3 loss to Anaheim.

Meanwhile, rookie John Danks (6-13, 5.41) looks to avoid becoming the first White Sox pitcher since 1920 to lose seven straight decisions. Danks is winless in his last eight starts and has not won since beating Cleveland on July 16.

One bright spot in a lost season for Chicago is designated hitter Jim Thome, who needs just two home runs to become the 23rd player to reach 500 for his career.