Opposite dugout: White Sox fading fast in division race

Manager: Rick Renteria (1st season)

Record: 26-35

Last 10 games: 2-8

Who to watch: RF Avisaíl García (.332 average with 10 HR, 42 RBIs and 75 hits); CF Leury García (.300 average with 6 HR, 21 RBIs); 1B José Abreu (.278 average with 10 HR, 34 RBIs); LHP David Holmberg (1-0, 2.74 ERA); RHP Miguel Gonzalez (4-7, 4.89 ERA)

Season series vs. Orioles: 0-3

Pitching probables:

June 12: LHP Wade Miley vs. RHP Mike Pelfrey, 8:10 p.m., MASN2
June 13: RHP Alec Asher vs. LHP Derek Holland, 8:10 p.m., MASN2
June 14: RHP Dylan Bundy vs. RHP Miguel González, 8:10 p.m., MASN2
June 15: RHP Chris Tillman vs. LHP David Holmberg, 2:10 p.m., MASN

Inside the White Sox:

For the second straight season, the White Sox used a hot April to surge to the top of the American League Central, only to see the harsh reality of May send them tumbling down the standings. In fact, the last time the White Sox prepared the face the Orioles, they boasted their best record of the season, a 15-12 mark and a half-game lead atop their division.

Entering this series, however, things aren't as keen for the boys in the Windy City. An 11-18 month of May and a rough start in June has the White Sox in the cellar of the AL Central and hoping to right the ship before they find themselves out of the playoffs for a ninth straight season.

A pair of Garcías man the outfield for Chicago and, coincidentally, they are the top two threats in the lineup. Right fielder Avisaíl García leads the team in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.332), home runs (10), RBIs (42), on-base percentage (.371) and hits (75). García is in his sixth major league season and will likely earn his first trip to the All-Star Game for his performance. Right behind him (or should we say across the outfield) is left fielder Leury García, who is also enjoying his best campaign in the majors. He's batting .300 on the year and has tallied six home runs on 54 hits. He's also the White Sox's biggest threat along the basepaths, as he leads the team with half a dozen steals. Of course, the Sox also feature first baseman José Abreu and third baseman Todd Frazier, each of whom have already reached double digit home run totals. Maybe that's why Chicago ranked fifth in the American League in total hitting entering Sunday's game, a potentially disastrous factor for a Baltimore pitching staff riddled with inconsistencies.

Unfortunately for the White Sox, their pitching hasn't been great, either. A staff ERA of 4.27 ranks in the bottom half of the league while Sox starters have racked up just 21 quality starts on the year. Joining the AL four years ago hasn't been kind to tonight's starter, Mike Pelfrey. After posting a 50-54 record in the senior circuit, Pelfrey is 17-42 since switching leagues and is aiming for his third win of the season in the series opener. Derek Holland is trying to forget his last two starts, where he's allowed 14 combined earned runs in back-to-back losses. But the left-hander still sports an ERA under four and is 5-2 lifetime against the Orioles. There won't be any mystery left Wednesday, when former Oriole Miguel González starts for the White Sox. Gonzalez is in his second season in Chicago after spending his first four in Baltimore, and will look to repeat his quality start against the O's on May 5. Left-hander David Holmberg was converted into a starter at the end of May, and to his credit, the results have been promising so far. Holmberg is 1-0 in those three starts but it's clear management is taking it easy with Holmberg's arm during the transition, as he hasn't thrown more than 74 pitches in any start despite limiting opponents to three or fewer runs.

In the bullpen, David Robertson handles the closing duties. He's notched at least 30 saves in each of his first two years in Chicago and is well on his way this season with 10 saves already. Along with Robertson, the White Sox bullpen features right-handers Anthony Swarzak, Tommy Kahnle and Chris Beck.