Chicago @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 7, 2013 ) NY Yankees 5, Chi. White Sox 6

The New York Yankees are fighting off a host of other teams in the American League wild card race as they try to track down the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics. The Chicago White Sox, who open a three-game series at the Yankees on Monday, are not in that fight but are trying to play spoiler. New York is 3 1/2 games behind the Rays for the second wild card spot.

The Yankees were well on their way to a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles and a closer spot in the wild card race before squandering a late three-run lead on Sunday. New York’s bullpen had gone four weeks without giving up a lead before Sunday and has regularly kept the team in games down the stretch. The White Sox had problems with their starting pitching while suffering a three-game sweep at Boston over the weekend but brought in bullpen reinforcements with the September callups.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, CSN Chicago, YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Jose Quintana (7-4, 3.66 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Phil Hughes (4-13, 4.91)

Quintana is aiming for a fourth straight quality start after being held out of the decision due to poor run support in his last two outings. The 24-year-old Colombian struck out eight and allowed three runs over 7 2/3 innings against Houston last week. Quintana held New York to one run over 6 2/3 innings to earn a win on Aug. 5 and is 2-0 against the Yankees in his career.

Hughes is trying to snap a nine-start winless streak and lasted only 4 2/3 innings while serving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits at Toronto last Monday. The impending free agent has not made it past the sixth inning since July 13. Hughes is 3-2 with a 1.38 ERA in 10 career games - six starts - against the White Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees SS Derek Jeter is 3-for-23 with eight strikeouts in six games since returning from his latest DL stint.

2. Chicago OF Avisail Garcia is 11-for-24 with six RBIs and four runs scored in the last six games.

3. New York LF Alfonso Soriano has 36 RBIs in 34 games since joining the team.

PREDICTION: Yankees 6, White Sox 4