Baltimore @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2010 ) Baltimore 4, Chi. White Sox 2

The Chicago White Sox will need to start playing better against the American League's bottom feeders to have any hope of catching the division leaders.

The White Sox look to bounce back from a costly loss to Baltimore as they host the Orioles in the finale of their three-game series Thursday night.

Wednesday night's 4-2 loss prevented the White Sox from gaining a game on the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central. The Twins dropped their third straight game in Texas, losing 4-3, but the White Sox failed to capitalize on their chance to move closer. Chicago was held to five hits by three Baltimore pitchers while Mark Buehrle allowed four runs in seven innings.

The White Sox remained 3 1/2 games back of Minnesota and had only themselves to blame after falling to 2-4 against the Orioles, who own one of the worst records in the majors.

Edwin Jackson gets the start for Chicago. He took the mound in his start against Kansas City on Friday, but threw seven pitches in the first inning before the game was delayed by rain.

The game was eventually postponed and manager Ozzie Guillen elected not to start Jackson in Saturday's doubleheader since the pitcher had warmed up and actually was in the game. Jackson was willing to pitch Saturday, but Guillen didn't want to take any chances with the right-hander, who pitched a perfect game against Tampa Bay on June 25.

Jackson has pitched well since being acquired from Arizona before the trade deadline. He's 1-0 in three starts, allowing only three earned runs in 20 innings.

Jackson will be making his first official start since Aug. 14 when he allowed one run and struck out 11 in seven innings against Detroit. The right-hander settled for a no-decision against the Orioles at Camden Yards on Aug. 1. He allowed two runs, including a Ty Wigginton home run, and struck out seven in six innings.

Jake Arrieta counters for the Orioles, looking for just his second win in six starts. The lone victory in that stretch came in Cleveland on Aug. 10.

While Arrieta hasn't had a lot of success when it comes to wins and losses, he is pitching deeper into games, which is a positive sign for the 24-year-old right-hander. He has pitched at least six innings in his last four starts, including his last outing against Texas when he allowed two runs (one earned) in 6 2/3 innings.