Opposite dugout: Hot start a distant memory for struggling White Sox

Manager: Robin Ventura (5^th season)

Record: 29-28

Last 10 games: 2-8

Who to watch: 3B Todd Frazier (18 HR, 40 RBIs); RF Adam Eaton (.270 average, 60 hits); 1B Jose Abreu (.251 average, 56 hits, 30 RBIs); LHP Chris Sale (9-2, 2.54 ERA); RHP Mat Latos (6-1, 4;02 ERA); CL David Robertson (3.22 ERA, 13 saves)

Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting of 2016 (0-3 in 2013)

Pitching probables:

June 7: RHP Joe Ross vs. RHP Mat Latos, 8:10 p.m., MASN2
June 8: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP James Shields, 8:10 p.m., MASN2
June 9: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. LHP Carlos Rodon, 8:10 p.m., MASN2

Inside the White Sox:

The White Sox were baseball's biggest surprise through April, posting a 17-8 record and taking the top spot in the American League Central, a division boasting the defending World Champion Royals.

If only the season was one month long.

Since their early-season surge, the White Sox have crashed back down to reality. An 11-17 May led to a loss on the division lead and things haven't fared much better in June as the White Sox are just 1-3 in the first week. A 2-8 mark in their last 10 games has fans on the south side of Chicago wondering what has gone wrong.

The offense has some talent, but the White Sox currently sit in the bottom third of the league in most major offensive categories. They rank 20^th in team average, 22^nd in runs scored, 25^th in home runs and 27^th in total bases. Yet while collectively the White Sox are searching for answers at the plate, that's not to say they don't have some offensive talent. Third baseman Todd Frazier leads the team with 18 home runs and 40 RBIs, while right fielder Adam Eaton is hitting a respectable .270 and has a team-leading 60 hits.

Meanwhile, the White Sox pitching staff is most likely the reason the team still boasts a plus-.500 record, even after a disastrous month of May. Left-hander Chris Sale should once again challenge for the American League Cy Young award. He's off to a tremendous 9-2 start and his 2.54 ERA and 78 strikeouts both rank fifth in the junior circuit. Starter Mat Latos has also quietly put together a solid 2016 season. The 28-year-old is a team-best 6-1 and while his ERA is a little high at 4.02, the right-hander has pitched at least five innings in every start, allowing his team to amass an 8-2 record in his outings. He'll get the start for the White Sox on Tuesday night in the series opener.

Fortunately for the Nationals, they'll miss Sale during their three-game series, but will get to face newcomer James Shields. Shields was traded to the White Sox from San Diego on Saturday and will make his first start with the White Sox on Wednesday.

The White Sox and Nationals haven't met since the 2013 season, when the White Sox were swept on the road in D.C. Still, the White Sox are 193-153 all-time in interleague play, which is the third-best winning percentage behind only the Yankees and Red Sox.