(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians likely aren't going to win the American League Central this season, but it looks like the defending division champs will have a say in determining the winner.

Cleveland will attempt to earn a three-game sweep of the Central co-leading Chicago White Sox when the two teams square off again this afternoon at Progressive Field.

The Indians recorded their second straight win over the White Sox with Tuesday's 9-3 triumph, Cleveland's 12th victory in its last 15 games.

Asdrubal Cabrera led the way for the Tribe with three hits and two RBI, while Victor Martinez hit his first home run in nearly a year, a two-run blast in the second inning. Franklin Gutierrez added a key two-run double on the evening.

Fausto Carmona (8-5) allowed three runs on five hits over the first 5 2/3 innings to record the win.

White Sox starter John Danks (10-8) lasted just four innings and was tagged for four runs on eight hits.

The loss was the fifth in the last five contests for Chicago, which remained tied with Minnesota atop the division when the Twins fell to Toronto on Tuesday. All five of those defeats have come on the road, where the Sox are just 31-40 on the season.

Chicago played Tuesday's test without slugger Carlos Quentin, who is battling soreness in his forearm, and outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who missed his second straight game with a tight lower back. Additionally, third baseman Joe Crede left last night's tilt with back problems. All three players are considered questionable to play today.

The White Sox' shorthanded lineup could put the burden on scheduled starter Javier Vazquez, who's had some struggles of his own as of late. The veteran right-hander has lost back-to-back starts and surrendered nine runs (7 earned) in 12 2/3 innings over that stretch.

Vazquez was reached for five runs (3 earned) and 10 hits in just 5 2/3 innings of Friday's 8-0 setback in Boston, six days after he gave up four runs over seven frames in a home loss to Tampa Bay.

The 32-year-old is 6-4 with a 3.98 ERA in 14 career starts against the Indians. He's faced them three times this season and gone 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in those games.

Cleveland will send out Jeremy Sowers this afternoon, with the young lefty taking another crack at getting his third victory of 2008.

Sowers is coming off a loss to Seattle on Friday, when he allowed three runs in five innings of work. Prior to that outing, the former first-round pick was rocked for seven runs in a 3 2/3-inning no-decision at Texas on August 23.

The 25-year-old, who is just 2-7 with a 5.92 for the year, yielded eight runs (3 earned) in three innings during a loss to the White Sox in Chicago on June 30. He is 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in two career starts versus the Pale Hose.

The White Sox are 9-5 against the Indians so far this season, but Cleveland has taken five of the eight meetings between the divisional foes at Progressive Field.