Floyd looks to keep streak alive

Chicago (42-38) at Kansas City (33-46), 12:10 p.m. CT

Scott Merkin / MLB.com

KANSAS CITY -- Talk of celebrating the Fourth of July usually evokes images such as fireworks, picnics, the Taste of Chicago in Grant Park and, of course, Major League Baseball.

This particular holiday often is used as a benchmark to judge potential postseason baseball entries, meaning the White Sox would be on the outside looking in, sitting in second place behind the Tigers in the American League Central. But with a season-high seven consecutive wins and two more contests against the Royals, the South Siders have to feel fairly strong about their status regardless of the date on the calendar.

"Well, I feel better, no doubt about it," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I think we continue to play well. We have a long way to go. [We are] only [four] over [.500], and that's not our goal. It could be uglier. Our goal is to play better than we've played but continue to play the way we are playing right now. Everyone feels good."

"We are getting closer to where we want to be," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said.

Gavin Floyd gets the start Saturday for the White Sox, increasing their possibility to extend this streak of success to eight in a row. After a miserable start to the 2009 campaign, the right-hander has a 4-1 record and a miniscule 1.39 ERA over his past eight starts. Floyd has yielded just nine runs in 58 1/3 innings, striking out 48 and holding opponents to a .183 average.

Shortstop Alexei Ramirez also figures to be back in the starting lineup against Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar, after sitting out two games due to bruising and soreness at the top of the middle finger on his right hand. Ramirez hopes to light up the afternoon sky with a few line drives or maybe even a long ball, before the official fireworks show beings later that night.

For Guillen, the Fourth of July holds deeper meaning than just the halfway point for the White Sox on this 162-game, regular-season schedule or just another national holiday.