The Chicago White Sox are pushing to claim the AL Central crown and make a deep playoff run, so Gavin Floyd's recent start against the Kansas City Royals -- five hits and two earned runs allowed over seven innings in a 3-2 win on Tuesday night -- is a great sign for the team. Floyd has spent time on the disabled list with an elbow issue, but manager Robin Ventura thinks Floyd is regaining his form, based on the two starts Floyd made since coming off the DL.

Ventura told CSN-Chicago:

It's a little sharper. You watch him throw, and it looks different. You see his mannerisms on the mound and he gets it back. He looks confident when he gets the ball back, like he's in control of what he's doing. It's a big thing for a pitcher.

I thought of letting him go out in the eighth. But you sit and look at it and he's done his job. That's what you wanted him to do in the first place. You get him out, feeling good about it.

Chris Sale and Jake Peavy are firmly entrenched at the top of the rotation for Chicago, but if Floyd can make contributions down the stretch the Sox have a good chance of holding off the Detroit Tigers.

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