(Best E Casino) - For the Chicago White Sox, the objective is simple -- defeat the Detroit Tigers this afternoon and live to play another day. Lose, and go home.

Since Chicago is a half game back of the Twins in the AL Central, it must make up today's game against the Tigers. Should the White Sox win this afternoon, they will host a one-game playoff on Tuesday against Minnesota to decide the division.

Chicago managed to keep its playoff hopes alive on Sunday, as Mark Buehrle was solid on the hill and Paul Konerko had a home run, helping the White Sox stop a five-game slide with a 5-1 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Like the White Sox, Minnesota had lost the first two games of its series with Kansas City, but salvaged the finale of the set on Sunday, making today's game necessary.

Buehrle (15-12) lasted seven innings and gave up a run on nine hits with six strikeouts and one walk to get the win.

The White Sox will have right-hander Gavin Floyd on the hill this afternoon. Floyd has been Chicago's best pitcher this season, going 16-8 with a 3.91 earned run average. However, he has lost two of his last three decisions and did not factor in the decision of his last start against Minnesota on Thursday.

Floyd, who is a perfect 3-0 in eight starts against the Tigers, surrendered four runs and 11 hits to the Twins in 5 2/3 frames of his team's 7-6 loss.

Chicago will have to go through a playoff hero from its past if it wants to extend its season, as Detroit will send Freddy Garcia to the hill. Garcia, of course, won all three of his playoff starts for the White Sox in 2005 en route to their first World Series title since 1917.

Garcia, who signed to a minor league deal with the Tigers in August, split his two starts for Detroit, while pitching to a 4.50 ERA. He is 5-5 lifetime against the Sox with a 4.52 ERA in 11 starts.

Detroit, which fired pitching coach Chuck Hernandez and bullpen coach Jeff Jones following Sunday's 8-7 loss to Tampa Bay, will be putting the lid on an extremely disappointing season this afternoon.

Gary Sheffield, though, is one home run shy of 500 for his career.

Chicago has won 11 of its 17 matchups with Detroit this season.