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Danks hopes to keep White Sox in first place

Sep 12, 2008 - 10:12 AM Detroit (70-76) at Chi White Sox (81-65). 8:11 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Despite dropping four of their last five games, the Chicago White Sox are barely holding onto the American League Central lead.

John Danks takes the mound as the White Sox look to get back to their winning ways in the season's most crucial stretch starting when they face the Detroit Tigers on Friday.

Chicago is one game ahead of the Minnesota Twins (80-66), who are 5 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox (85-60) in the wild-card hunt.

Danks (10-8, 3.44 ERA) has been an important cog in Chicago's season, but has sputtered in the second half. After posting a 7-4 record with a 2.67 ERA in 19 starts, the 23-year-old lefthander is 3-4 with a 5.04 mark in 10 outings after the All-Star break.

He has lost four of his last five decisions and is coming off a frustrating loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Sunday, when he gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 frames.

The Tigers counter with Justin Verlander (10-15, 4.78), who has been mired in a season-long slump - a stark contrast to 2007 when he was 18-6 with a 3.66 ERA.

In losing six of his last eight starts, the 25-year-old righthander has failed to salvage an inconsistent first half in which he was 7-9 with a 4.15 ERA. After the All-Star break, Verlander is 3-6 with a 6.23.

The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year has surrendered four or more earned runs in half of his 30 starts this year and was a victim of that just seven times last season.