MLB: Chicago White Sox Starting to Get Back into the Pink

The Chicago White Sox have reasons to be optimistic this week.

After a miserable start of the season, Chicago is showing signs of life.

The White Sox are now riding a three-game win streak as a result of Monday's 8-0 win over the Angels. The starting pitching has looked good over the last week and the bats seem to be coming out of hibernation. Jake Peavy is scheduled to make his first start of the season this week.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows yet, but at least the last few days indicate better fortunes for the South Side crew as they visit the West Coast.

Edwin Jackson, who saw an great eight-inning outing go for naught last week when Fransisco Liriano no-hit the Sox, went seven strong innings Monday night to pick up his third win of the season. Chris Sale and Will Ohman threw scoreless relief in support.

Gavin Floyd and Mark Buehrle tossed eight innings apiece in the last two Chicago victories, with Sergio Santos throwing two innings of relief to pick up Sunday's 5-2 win over the Mariners.

The win marked the first series win the White Sox have completed since back in early April.

Santos, who is 1-0 with three saves since being given closer responsibilities, has not been scored upon so far this season. Ozzie Guillen has not formally given Santos the closer title, but I'm guessing that he's going to keep handing his young right-hander the ball in the ninth.

Carlos Quentin had three hits and five RBI in Monday's game, including a three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning. Gordon Beckham and Alexei Ramirez also went yard for the White Sox. Sunday, Ramirez drove in the game-winner in the top of the 10th.

Alex Rios is starting to hit. Brett Morel is flirting with the .220 mark. The offense is beginning to provide the support the starting pitching has deserved recently.

The White Sox also announced Monday that Peavy would be on the mound Wednesday night. The news fits right in to the good feelings over the last few days.

This three-game streak still leaves us in the basement of the AL Central, but it is Chicago's longest win streak of the season to this point.

It's pretty early in this turnaround to feel too giddy about the White Sox, but after the dreadful 4-22 run that preceded the last three games, it's good to get a glimpse of a ray of light.