Chicago @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2012 ) Chi. White Sox 7, Toronto 2

The Chicago White Sox will try to build momentum from their first road win when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday in the opener of a four-game series. The White Sox ended a five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory Sunday against the host Cleveland Indians, becoming the last major-league team to win away from home. The Blue Jays missed a chance to record their first road sweep since last September when the Kansas City Royals scored in the bottom of the ninth to win Sunday’s game 3-2.

The Blue Jays are still reeling from the loss of shortstop Jose Reyes to a severe ankle injury in Friday’s series opener against the Royals. Munenori Kawasaki has a base hit and two walks as a replacement for Reyes but the Blue Jays are considering moving Brett Lawrie from third base to second while he rehabs an injury to his ribs at Class A Dunedin. The moves would also include switching Maicer Izturis from second base to shortstop and Jose Bautista from outfield to third base.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, SNET (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Gavin Floyd (0-2, 5.56 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle (0-0, 10.24)

Floyd takes the ball against Buehrle, his former teammate, and will be looking to win his third straight against the Blue Jays. He went 2-0 against Toronto last season after losing his first five decisions against the club. He threw 7 2/3 shutout innings against the Blue Jays last July in a 2-0 victory in Chicago. A month later in Toronto, he went six innings and allowed four runs and eight hits in a 9-5 victory. Bautista hasn’t had much success against Floyd in his career, collecting one hit in 12 at-bats, but Adam Lind is 6-for-16 with a home run.

Buehrle spent 12 seasons with the White Sox before leaving for the Miami Marlins last season. This will be his first meeting against his former club. "It’s going to be weird seeing those guys in the batter’s box,” he said. Buehrle hasn’t made it through the sixth inning in his first two outings this season. The Blue Jays saved him from getting the loss in both games by piling up 18 runs. White Sox outfielder Alex Rios, who spent his first 5 1/2 seasons with the Blue Jays, is 3-for-23 with a home run in his career against Buehrle.

WALK-OFFS

1. With the win Sunday, the White Sox avoided their first 0-6 start on the road since 1968.

2. The White Sox have drawn 16 walks this season, the fewest in the major leagues.

3. Blue Jays DH Edwin Encarnacion broke out of a 5-for-44 slump to start the season with a home run in Sunday’s loss to the Royals.

PREDICTION: White Sox 5, Blue Jays 4