Chicago @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 17, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 3, LA Angels 0

The Chicago White Sox will try to continue their best stretch of the season when they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday in the third contest of their four-game series. Chicago has won four in a row for the first time this season and drawn even with the Minnesota Twins for fourth place in the tightly bunched American League Central, four games behind the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers. The Angels, meanwhile, continue their season-long tailspin. They’ve lost three straight to fall 12 games below .500 for the first time this season.

The White Sox have plenty of reasons to be elated. Adam Dunn has broken out of a six-week slump by powering four home runs in the last four games. Alex Rios has given Chicago a 1-0 lead in the first two games of the series with solo home runs and has hit safely in 12 straight games. Even third baseman Conor Gillaspie continues to impress, leading all AL rookies with 31 base hits. About the only batter the Angels can count on is second baseman Howie Kendrick, who is hitting .328 in May to bump his overall average up to .299.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Hector Santiago (1-2, 2.23 ERA) vs. Angels RH Joe Blanton (0-7, 6.46)

Santiago will make his fourth consecutive start after moving into the rotation when Jake Peavy was scratched from a May 2 start because of back spasms. He earned a longer look with a decent outing that night against the Texas Rangers, followed by the revelation that Gavin Floyd would need elbow surgery. Santiago went toe-to-toe with New York Mets ace Matt Harvey on May 7 before the White Sox lost 1-0 in the bottom of the 10th inning. He took a step back in his last start, however, allowing six runs - three earned - and six hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 10-3 loss Monday against the Minnesota Twins.

Blanton is on the verge of becoming the second pitcher in the majors to start 0-8 this season. The other, Philip Humber of the Houston Astros, was sent to the bullpen after an 0-7 start before being released after suffering his eighth defeat Saturday - in relief. This might also be Blanton’s last chance to impress his bosses as staff ace Jered Weaver is close to returning from an injury to his non-throwing elbow and Tommy Hanson could soon be coming off the restricted list following the death of his step-brother. Blanton, who is playing for his third team since the start of last season, has allowed 75 hits in 46 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Angels have allowed 100 runs with two outs this season, the most in the majors.

2. The White Sox have hit 16 home runs over the last 15 games, including five multi-homer games.

3. Chicago has played in a major-league leading 17 one-run games and is 8-9.

PREDICTION: White Sox 8, Angels 5