Chicago @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 26, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 11, Texas 3

Yu Darvish leads the majors with 49 strikeouts and has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the big leagues as the Texas Rangers open a three-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Darvish will seek his third straight scoreless outing as he takes the mound against Chicago after allowing just six total hits in 13 innings over his last two outings. The White Sox have lost six of their last nine games.

Texas catcher A.J. Pierzynski plays against the White Sox for the first time since joining the Rangers as a free agent in the offseason. Pierzynski played eight seasons in Chicago and hit a career-best 27 homers last season. Pierzynski is batting .295 with an eight-game hitting streak entering the series. The White Sox are four games below .500. Slugger Adam Dunn has 11 career homers in 77 at-bats against the Rangers and is showing signs of getting his bat moving. Dunn was batting .100 through 70 at-bats before going 5-for-14 over the last four games to boost his average to .143.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Fox Sports Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Jose Quintana (2-0, 2.78 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Yu Darvish (4-1, 1.65)

Quintana has won two straight starts and pitched well in three consecutive outings. He has allowed two runs and 10 hits in 18 2/3 innings during the stretch. Quintana struck out eight and gave up one run on two hits while beating the Rangers last season in his lone appearance against them. This is his first time pitching in Arlington.

Darvish has struck out 10 or more in three of his five starts and has allowed just 16 hits in 32 2/3 innings. He has given up three or fewer hits four times while holding opponents to a .145 average. Darvish was roughed up last season in his lone outing against the White Sox, allowing six runs (five earned) and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He is 20-10 in 34 career starts since coming over from Japan.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago went 6-3 against the Rangers last season and split the six games in Texas.

2. Rangers OF Nelson Cruz is just a .189 hitter with 32 strikeouts in 106 career at-bats against Chicago.

3. White Sox INF Jeff Keppinger (back) could return to the lineup after missing three consecutive games.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, White Sox 0