Oakland @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 4, Oakland 6

The Chicago White Sox have been the hottest team in baseball over the last 42 games.

They'd love nothing more than to extend the run to 43.

Chicago looks to build on its lead in the American League Central on Friday as it opens a three-game series against the visiting Oakland Athletics.

It wasn't long ago that the Chicago White Sox's season looked to be a total washout. Following a June 8 loss at home to Detroit, the Sox fell to 24-33 overall and were 9 1/2 games behind first-place Minnesota in the American League Central.

A even more disturbing trend was the fact Chicago was playing so poorly at U.S. Cellular Field. The loss to the Tigers dropped the Sox to 13-18 at home.

There was little reason to believe the situation would improve. The Sox couldn't win at home or on the road, the offense wasn't producing, key pitchers were struggling and there were rumors manager Ozzie Guillen wouldn't survive the season.

As the season heads into August, a lot has changed. The White Sox are the hottest team in baseball. They are 31-11 since that dark day in June and lead the division by a 1 1/2 games over the Twins.

Chicago is also much improved at home. The Sox have won 11 in a row and 18 of 19 in Chicago, their only loss in that stretch coming against the cross-town Cubs back on June 27.

The picture isn't quite as sunny for the Oakland A's, who dropped two of three in Texas to fall 8 1/2 games behind the Rangers in the AL West.

Oakland's pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries. Starter Ben Sheets will miss the rest of the season because of a torn tendon in his right elbow and faces the decision to have another operation or retire. Closer Andrew Bailey could be headed to the disabled list with a sore back.

The A's will be keeping a close eye on Brett Anderson (2-1), who is making his first start since June 3. He's been on the disabled twice this season with a sore right elbow.

Anderson had a solid rookie season in 2009. He made 30 starts, pitched 175 1/3 innings and finished with an 11-11 record. Keeping him healthy this season has been a challenge. He was 1-1 through four starts, but went on the DL after his April 24 outing. Anderson returned on May 29 and pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings against Detroit, but the elbow issues returned five days later in his next start against Boston when he was pulled after two innings.

The A's hope the additional rest will cure Anderson's problems, but they are certain to monitor his workload in what will be just his seventh start of the season.

Rookie Daniel Hudson (1-1) will need to pitch better than he did against Oakland on Sunday. He gave up five runs, six hits and four walks in five innings. Hudson threw 108 pitches, far too many for not pitching deeper into the game.

Hudson joined the rotation when Jake Peavy suffered a season-ending injury earlier this month.