Next up for Sox: That dreaded killer road trip

The White Sox' killer road trip to Boston, New York, Minnesota and Wrigley Field has been dissected and discussed for a month, maybe longer.

It's finally here, and it opens with a four-game series against the Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park.

Is this the journey that's going to determine whether the Sox make the playoffs?

"I think it's a make-or-break (trip) for us," starter Mark Buehrle said. "I think you looked at it when the schedule first came out in the off-season; you looked at obviously this was going to be a big series.

"Going to Boston and New York, they're always good, and we don't play good in Minnesota. I think it's going to be make-or-break (series). Hopefully we can go at least .500 or better. I think if we go under .500, it's going to be tough to dig ourselves out of a hole."

After the Sox went 3-3 at home against two last-place teams (Royals, Orioles), Jermaine Dye said the opponent doesn't matter.

"Every time you're in a playoff race with 30, 40 games left, every game is key," Dye said. "Every series from here on out is key. You have to win games, no matter how you do it."

Maybe a step up in class is a good thing for the up-and-down White Sox. Three weeks ago, the Sox won three of four home games from the New York Yankees and two of three from the Los Angeles Angels.

"I don't know, for some reason we play good against guys that have good ballclubs," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I'm pretty optimistic. Hopefully everything goes right. Just go out and play the way we should be playing. I think we've got a team to compete against anyone."

As they've shown with painful frequency, the White Sox can lose games to anyone.

"We're lucky to be where we are," Dye said. "Our division isn't the division we've known with a lot of wins. We have to be thankful we're still in it and have a chance to win it. This time of the season, that's all you can ask for.

"I think with the people we have in this clubhouse, we could win a World Series. We have professional hitters and pitchers and a lot of character in this clubhouse."

Second shift: Brent Lillibridge played second base Sunday, his first start with the White Sox since May 17.

Jayson Nix had been starting at second in place of Chris Getz, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since Aug. 12 with a strained right oblique.

Getz is eligible to come off the DL on Thursday at Boston.

"I think we're missing Getz," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Getz gets a lot of things done. A lot of people talk about Gordon Beckham and nobody says anything about Getz. Gordon is a tremendous ballplayer and is going to be a superstar.

"In the meanwhile, we don't say anything about (Getz). This kid was in the lineup; he makes a lot of things happen with a lot of speed. Hit and runs.

"Everybody in this lineup can hit a home run. In the middle of the lineup, a lot of teams are going to be slow. In the top and the bottom, we're pretty fast."