MLB: Chicago White Sox Can Ride Interleague Tilt to the Top of the AL Central

The Chicago White Sox find themselves in a similar position to last year's club and hope their upcoming slate of games with the National League produces a similar run up the standings.

Last year at this time, the White Sox used a 13-2 run in interleague play to slingshot up the American League Central Division. Chicago has gained six games on the division leaders in the last two weeks and now seemed poised to at least hang around with the Indians and Tigers.

A .719 interleague winning percentage over the last four seasons suggests that, once again, Chicago could use their matchups with the senior circuit to complete their climb up the Central.

Sunday afternoon, the White Sox hung on to beat Oakland 5-4 to close the gap behind Cleveland and Detroit to just three and a half games.  Chicago travels to Minnesota for a three-game series before opening a stretch of 15 games against Arizona, the Cubs, Washington and Colorado.

Only the Diamondbacks are over .500 at this point of the season. Obviously, this is good news to a White Sox team who has rallied from as many as 11 games off the pace last month to being right in the thick of the AL Central race.

Chicago took three of four from the Athletics despite an implosion by Sergio Santos Friday night and a less than dominating appearance by Santos on Sunday. The second-year right-hander has 12 of the bullpen's 17 saves this season, but was not sharp in his last two appearances.

If the bullpen can protect leads in the next two weeks, the White Sox could continue to claw their way to the division lead. Before that happens, they still have to visit the Twins.

Currently last in the AL Central, Minnesota has won nine of their last 11 games and have been strong at home against the White Sox. Gavin Floyd, Mark Buehrle and Edwin Jackson will be trying to keep the train moving.

From there, the White Sox head to Arizona to capture the magic they have held over the National League.