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(Sports Network) - A pair of first-place clubs begin a four-game series tonight, as the Tampa Bay Rays host the Chicago White Sox in the opener at Tropicana Field.

It isn't a stretch to say it is surprising that these two clubs are both in first place of their respective divisions as May is coming to a close. The White Sox ended the 2007 season 72-90 and in fourth place in the American League Central, just two years removed from winning the World Series in 2005.

The Rays, meanwhile, have been a constant last place club in the AL East, finishing in the basement of the standings in each of the last three years and in nine of their 10 seasons since joining as an expansion in 1998.

In fact, Tampa Bay was in the cellar of the division when these two clubs met on April 18-20. Chicago was in first at the time and took two of three in that series. However, the Rays went on to win six in a row following that set to move into a tie for first place in the AL East.

The club hasn't looked back since, staying near or at the top of the standings since while currently leading the division by 1 1/2 games over Boston.

Part of the reason has been the Rays' play at home. They have won 17 of their last 19 at Tropicana Field, where they are 21-9 overall this year. Tampa is batting .279 at home this season -- fourth in the AL -- while its 2.89 home earned run average is second in the league.

The Rays, in the midst of a 10-game homestand, won two of three over Texas to improve to 5-1 on the residency. In Sunday's finale, Matt Garza struck out 10 batters over a career-high eight innings to lead the Rays to a 5-3 victory. Garza (4-1) walked two and scattered four hits while allowing two runs.

The Rays offense was led by Akinori Iwamura, who was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria also drove in a run each in the victory.

Carl Crawford went 0-for-5 to end his 10-game hitting streak. He had hit .302 (13-for-43) over that run.

Tampa's Edwin Jackson picked up his first win since April 10 last time out and will shoot for back-to-back victories tonight. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits and five walks over five innings, but was good enough in the 11-4 win. On the season, he is 3-3 with a 3.47 earned run average.

Jackson lost to the White Sox on April 20, getting blitzed for six runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 frames. The setback dropped him to 0-1 in two career starts against Chicago with an 8.71 ERA.

Chicago's Jim Thome went 3-for-3 in that game off Garza with a homer and three RBI. The slugging designated hitter is batting just .204 on the season and went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's win over Cleveland.

With Thome struggling, Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye continue to lead the White Sox's offense. In Wednesday's 6-5 win, Quentin drove in three runs, including two during a deciding three-run seventh frame, to lift his club.

Quentin is hitting .333 (25-for-75) with six homers and 23 RBI in his last 20 games, while Dye hit his ninth homer of the season in yesterday's win. A.J. Pierzynski also knocked in a pair of runs for the White Sox, who have won three of their last four and are 11-3 in their last 14 games. That has Chicago two games up on Minnesota for first place in the AL Central.

One of John Danks' best starts this season came against Tampa Bay, and he will aim to duplicate that tonight. Danks battled the Rays at Tropicana Field on April 20 and held them to only three hits over seven shutout frames, striking out eight in a 6-0 victory. Danks has won both of his career starts versus Tampa Bay with a 3.00 ERA.

The left-hander lost for the first time in four starts (1-1) on Saturday, falling in defeat to the Angels. Danks gave up just two runs on five hits over five innings, but got no run support in a 2-0 setback. The 23-year-old is 3-4 with a 3.00 ERA this season.

Chicago has won eight of its last 10 versus the Rays, going 6-1 in Tampa Bay during that time.