Chicago @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 2, Boston 7

The Boston Red Sox are riding an incredible pitching wave into a big lead in the American League East. The Red Sox aim for a 12th straight quality start when they try to polish off a three-game sweep of the visiting Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Boston pitchers, led by the starting rotation, have allowed three or fewer runs in each of the last 11 games as the club has begun to pull away from the Tampa Bay Rays.

The offense is doing its part as well, piling up 15 hits in a 7-2 victory on Saturday. The White Sox ran off a string of 10 wins in 12 games before coming to Boston but are not getting their own strong pitching against the Red Sox, as both Hector Santiago and John Danks struggled. The last-place White Sox are enduring a 10-game road trip through Boston, New York and Baltimore that could have a big impact on both the AL East and wild-card races.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Andre Rienzo (1-0, 4.21 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (10-6, 3.74)

Rienzo is coming off his worst start since being called up on July 30, a six-inning effort against Houston in which he was knocked around for seven runs (five earned) on nine hits in six frames. The Brazilian rookie issued three walks in that start and 17 free passes in 36 1/3 total innings. Rienzo, who will be facing Boston for the first time, is 1-0 with a 2.88 ERA in four starts on the road in his young career.

Doubront is aiming for a third straight quality start after holding the Baltimore Orioles to two runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings on Tuesday. The Venezuelan turned a corner at San Francisco on Aug. 21 and has held opponents to nine total hits and two walks over 14 2/3 innings in his last two starts. Doubront was a tough-luck loser at Chicago on May 21, yielding two runs on five hits in six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox are expected to call up a few players when rosters expand on Sunday, though with Triple-A Pawtucket heading to the playoffs, the team will wait to completely fill out the bench.

2. Chicago OF Avisail Garcia is 10-for-21 with six RBIs in his last five games.

3. Boston acquired veteran INF John McDonald from Philadelphia on Saturday and expects to have him for the series finale.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 8, White Sox 3