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Tigers-White Sox Preview

May 6, 2009 - 6:07 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (13-12) at Chicago (12-13), 8:11 p.m. EDT

Mark Buehrle has won at least 10 games in each of his eight previous seasons for the Chicago White Sox. Despite that run, he's never won his first five decisions in any of those years.

The left-hander has a chance to accomplish that feat Wednesday night while trying to help the White Sox avoid a fifth consecutive loss in the opener of a two-game home series against the Detroit Tigers.

Buehrle (4-0, 3.30 ERA) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings of a 4-3 win at Texas on Friday for his fourth consecutive victory. He didn't factor in Chicago's 4-2 season-opening victory over Kansas City.

"It's a pretty ugly 4-0," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He's always the same. It doesn't matter whether he's 8-0, he does the same job."

Buehrle won his first four starts in 2002, but lost the next two during the only 19-win season of his previous nine with Chicago (12-14).

After the White Sox lost 8-7 in 11 innings at Kansas City on Tuesday to conclude a 1-4 road trip, Buehrle will make his first start against the Tigers in 2009. He is 13-8 with a 2.96 ERA in 25 starts versus Detroit.

The AL Central rivals split an abbreviated two-game series last month at Comerica Park.

The Tigers (14-12) went 2-7 at U.S. Cellular Field last year, but come in having won three of their last four after a 9-0 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday.

Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer and drove in four for Detroit, which will be trying for a third consecutive road win.

Cabrera is hitting .452 (14-for-31) with three home runs and nine RBIs during his nine-game hitting streak. He is 4-for-10 against the White Sox this season, but 0-for-6 lifetime versus Buehrle.

Detroit placed the versatile Carlos Guillen on the disabled list Tuesday with shoulder inflammation, and hopes former Chicago slugger Magglio Ordonez can heat up after going 0-for-8 versus the Twins.

A career .311 hitter, Ordonez is batting .232 this season - but .536 (15-for-28) with two homers versus Buehrle.

"We're not going to be able to win unless we get Guillen back healthy and producing the way we know he will, and get Magglio going," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.

Armando Galarraga (3-1, 3.07) looks to rebound from his first loss for the Tigers. He allowed five runs and eight hits while walking three in five innings of a 6-5 loss to Cleveland on Friday.

The right-hander gave up four hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 9-0 win over the White Sox on April 15 in his only previous start versus them.

Josh Fields and Jermaine Dye homered on Monday for Chicago, which went 4-for-26 with runners in scoring position while being swept in two games by the Royals.

"Some people on this team better check (themselves)," Guillen said. "They better think about the way we're playing. They better be careful. I'm not afraid to make changes."

Dye, who missed his previous two contests after being hit on the hand with a pitch Saturday in Texas, is batting .341 (14-for-41) with four homers and nine RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak against the Tigers.