Chicago @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 1, Detroit 5

Chicago’s fast start to this long road trip is quickly fading. So, too, are its postseason chances.

The White Sox dropped their second straight to Detroit Wednesday at the worst possible time and enter Thursday’s afternoon series finale 5 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins, who have won six straight.

Chicago won its first seven games of this 10-game trip, but is still losing ground in the AL’s Central Division. With a nine-game homestand beginning Friday, including three games against Minnesota, the team desperately needs to get out of Detroit Thursday with a victory to stay within reach of first place in the division.

The White Sox will turn to Gavin Floyd, who has been tremendous against the Tigers. Floyd is 5-0 lifetime with a 3.20 ERA against Detroit. He allowed one run in six innings and struck out eight the last time he faced the Tigers on June 8 and he’s allowed two runs or less in each of his last three starts overall.

Rick Porcello will start for Detroit hoping to continue the success of Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman before him. Verlander and Bonderman have combined to allow two runs in 15 innings to a team still trying to win eight games on a road trip for the first time in 65 years.

Porcello has pitched much better of late, winning his last three starts and four of his last five dating back to Aug. 8. He has pitched exactly seven innings in each of his last three starts, but he has struggled against the White Sox.

Porcello is 0-4 in five career starts against Chicago with an 8.67 ERA. Four of those starts, and three of those losses, have come this year. He was pounded for seven runs in 4 1-3 innings in his most recent start against Chicago on Aug. 3.

The Tigers played Wednesday without slugger Miguel Cabrera and may not have him Thursday, either. Cabrera, batting .333 with 33 homers and 110 RBIs, is battling tendinitis in his left shoulder and biceps.

The White Sox are still without second baseman Gordon Beckham, whose hand is still sore after getting hit by a pitch Aug. 30 in Cleveland. Beckham tried playing through it the last few days, but the hand was sore enough to force him out of games Wednesday and Thursday.

Chicago’s defense must improve if it is to remain in contention. The White Sox have allowed seven unearned runs in their last two games while slipping farther and farther away from the Twins.