The Chicago White Sox are off a 3-1 win against local-rival the Chicago Cubs last night but a poor month of August have seen them almost drop out of post-season contention again. They're 4.5 games back of the Baltimore Orioles for the last Wild Card in the AL but with five teams in between, one of them the Los Angeles Angels who will play host in the opener of a three-game series tonight. The Halos are just 0.5 games behind the O's to get back to their winning ways after dropping six of their last seven.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The White Sox hand the ball to Carlos Rodon (5-4, 4.61 ERA) who's off seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball against this Halos team. He had conceded a total of 12 runs on 14 hits and two walks in just 7 2/3 innings in his last two starts prior though and has a propensity of following scoreless performances with really dreadful ones. The Angels will counter with Andrew Heaney (5-1, 2.53) who's having a terrific first season in the majors. He's an undefeated 3-0 in five home-starts and held the White Sox to two runs in 5 2/3 innings at U.S. Cellular Field his most recent start.

2. Road Woes - The White Sox have lost four straight away from home and five consecutive head-to-head meetings with the Halos at Angels Stadium of Anaheim. The Angels are 5-0 in Heaneys last five starts as a home favorite.

3. X-Factor - C.J. Cron is batting .379 so far in August and he was 2-for-3 against Rodon on August 11.

Selection: This is a play on Los Angeles Angels (8*)