And now, neatly colliding with the Pirates' most abysmal stretch in half a century ...

The Chicago White Sox, defending World Series champions and hottest team in the game, come to town today.

Jim Leyland's Detroit Tigers, the only outfit in Major League Baseball with a better record, report next.

	Today Matchup: White Sox (Mark Buehrle 8-4) vs. Pirates (Ian Snell 7-4). PNC Park. When: 7:05 p.m. TV/radio: FSN Pittsburgh/KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network. Coming up Detroit Tigers: Three-game series at PNC Park starting Friday. New York Mets: Three-game series at Shea Stadium starting July 3. Related articles Despite ugly record, Pirates are All-Star vote darlings McClatchy hints at changes Pirates Scouting Report: Chicago White Sox Pirates put history on display Murderers' row: A look at the Pirates' next three opponents Stats Geek: Pirates' defense offers pitchers no protection

Then, a visit to New York to take on the first-place Mets.

"You know what? I haven't looked at the schedule," shortstop Jack Wilson said. "Because, if I had, it would have said that we're playing the White Sox, Tigers and Mets in the next two weeks. And that wouldn't have been too good."

The caliber of opponent, it is safe to say, means the Pirates are not in Kansas City anymore, Toto.

Put together, the White Sox, Tigers and Mets are 143-81, a winning percentage of .638 that is 300 points higher than the Pirates' .338. And that only begins to describe the challenge at hand for a team stuck in its first 11-game losing streak since 1955.

Check out the pitching:

Chicago's rotation will be Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras, whose cumulative record is 25-8. Contreras, the brilliant Cuban import making headlines with his 8-0 start, has lost once in his past 25 outings dating to last season.

Detroit has Kenny Rogers, the winningest pitcher in the American League at 10-3, opening that series Friday. He is followed by dynamic youngsters Jeremy Bonderman and Zach Miner, a combined 11-5.

And the first two games at Shea Stadium? Yes, Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine, who annihilated the Pirates there two months ago.

"Here it comes," reliever Roberto Hernandez said. "They're all waiting for us, I can promise you that."

"Obviously, the schedule isn't doing us any favors right now," right fielder Craig Wilson said. "But you know what? We can't worry about how dominant these teams are and who's pitching. They've still got to put the ball over the plate, and we still have a chance to hit it."

"It's not getting any easier, is it?" first baseman Sean Casey said. "Whatever. That's fine. Hopefully, it's what we need right now. We're a good team, too. We all believe that. That's where we've got to get our energy from."

Manager Jim Tracy offers a similar view.

"I look at it as a way of saying the bar has been raised," he said. "They have to understand that certain expectations need to be faced and met. What better message to send to yourself than going out and playing possibly the two best teams in baseball, and then going to New York and facing another first-place team? If we can win against these teams, it shows tremendous character."

Until the latter part of the losing streak, the Pirates had been competitive with most opponents, even the good ones. Still, their record against teams currently above .500 is 10-24.

The most formidable challenge might come first.

Chicago had a nine-game winning streak end Sunday, and its pitching has been dominant in putting together a 49-26 record that is nearly a mirror image of the Pirates' 26-51. The rotation leads the majors in innings pitched, and its 4.43 ERA ranks fourth in the American League.

There is plenty of offense, too, most of it potent. The White Sox have hit 111 home runs, most in the majors, including 24 by Jim Thome, 20 by Jermaine Dye, 19 by Paul Konerko and 14 by Joe Crede.

And the depth extends to the bench, where former Pirates utilityman Rob Mackowiak is beginning to go on one of his familiar tears, batting .381 this month while seeing more frequent duty in center field.

	MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Monday's results INDIANAPOLIS (41-34) beat Rochester, 6-0. LHP Tom Gorzelanny (6-5, 2.35) pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed two hits, facing two batters above the minimum. He struck out five, walked one and threw 50 of 73 pitches for strikes. RHP Terry Adams (3.18) and RHP Josh Sharpless (2.45) each pitched a perfect inning of relief. ALTOONA (45-30) won at Akron, 5-3. LHP Shane Youman (5-2, 1.63) allowed one run in six innings. RHP Chris Hernandez (2.75) allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings of of relief. RF Ray Sadler (.237) had a three-run triple and walked in four at-bats. LYNCHBURG (35-40) was off. HICKORY (34-39) and Kannapolis were rained out. WILLIAMSPORT (2-4) lost to Auburn, 4-1. RHP Patrick Bresnehan (0-2, 7.04) allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings. 3B Alexander Peralta (.273) went 1 for 3 with a walk.

"It's about starting pitching and power," Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said of Chicago's success. "You could go to a lot of other factors, obviously. Their bullpen has done a nice job, and there are a lot of secondary pieces. But I would say they score a lot of runs and get good starting pitching."

The man making it all work together, ironically, seems to spend much of his time unglued. Manager Ozzie Guillen has made national headlines of late, first for berating a pitcher who failed to follow orders and hit a batter, then for making insensitive remarks aimed at a Chicago columnist.

Pirates reliever Damaso Marte, part of the White Sox's title team, tasted the negative and positive of playing for such an animated manager.

Late last season, Marte reported late for treatment on his injured neck, prompting Guillen to send him home and threaten to remove him from the roster. But Marte apologized and wound up winning the 14-inning Game 3 of the World Series.

"Damaso's problem was that nobody grabbed him and talked to him the way you should be talked to," Guillen said shortly before Chicago traded him to the Pirates for Mackowiak in December. "Everyone was baby-sitting him and talked to him the nice way. When I talked to him the wrong way, he got better."

Marte made clear he harbors no ill will.

"He's a manager who likes to win, and I understand that," he said. "He just wants you to do your job well every single day, and he makes sure you know that."

Of the team, Marte added: "For me, winning that championship was like a dream. It's not easy. You have to become like a family for six months. You have to work hard, work together. I still have friends over there, so I know they're still like that. That's why I'm not surprised they're doing so well again."

If the Pirates lose tonight, they will match the franchise's modern-day record of 12 losses in a row, set in 1939.