(Sports Network) - Whether it has been a hitting drought or a string of victories, the Chicago White Sox have been one of the streakier teams across the league this season.

Thanks to their most current run -- a five-game win streak -- the White Sox have surged back to the top of the American League Central standings. Not so fast to succumb to all the recent talk of how the National League has caught up to the American League, Chicago swept its interleague series with the San Francisco Giants over the weekend.

Of course, this isn't the first time the South Siders have gone on a tear this season, whether good or bad. They burst onto the scene by winning five in a row in early April.

Then there was that stretch earlier this month where they lost six straight and simply couldn't buy a hit. Then they won three straight. And lost the next three. And so on.

Not that there is ever a bad time for a win streak, but this current rally comes at a pretty good time, with Chicago building momentum for a big six-game homestand this week.

The second-place Cleveland Indians are in town for a three-game set beginning tonight. And on Thursday, the Angels, who lead the AL West, visit U.S. Cellular Field for a weekend series.

And as has been the case throughout the first two months of the season, things remain tight in the AL Central. Four teams are situated within three games of each other, and nobody is sleeping on the last-place Tigers, either.

The real key for Chicago has been its pitching. Over the last seven days, the Sox hurlers have assembled a 5-1 record and a 2.04 ERA, easily the best such numbers in the majors during that span. And they continue not to be hurt by the long ball. In that same span, they've allowed only one home run, and still lead the majors in fewest homers allowed on the season (23).

'PEN PALS

The relievers, in particular, have been a major asset for the team. Manager Ozzie Guillen has the luxury of being able to call out to the bullpen and feel good about whoever comes into the game.

Nick Wasserman and Boone Logan have become the situational specialists late in games. Matt Thornton has established himself as perhaps the most reliable left-hander out of the bullpen. Octavio Dotel has held his own, while setup man Scott Linebrink leads the AL in holds. And closer Bobby Jenks (2-0, 1.96, 10 saves) remains a force in the ninth.

"The more we have situations where games are tight, the more opportunities we get to pitch like that, the more we see how it's going to play out in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings," Linebrink said on the team's Web site. "It also means the more we get adjusted to what role we are going to have.

"When everyone is doing their job, it makes it that much easier," Linebrink added.

WHO'S HOT

Gavin Floyd, a question mark at the back end of the rotation entering the season, has really come into his own and is now one of the team's most consistent starters. Floyd has gone 4-2 in eight starts and his 2.92 ERA is tops in the rotation.

General Manager Kenny Williams looks like a genius for his pursuit of outfielder Carlos Quentin in the offseason. Quentin is hitting .301, leads the team with 37 RBI, has an on-base percentage of .415, and leads the AL with 11 home runs. Certainly, the change of scenery has given the slugger a boost.

"He's not doing anything he hasn't done before," Williams said of Quentin. "This is him. He's been a good player."

WHO'S NOT

One of Williams' other offseason acquisitions, Nick Swisher, is not doing so hot. He is hitting just .188 over the last 30 days.

A LOOK AHEAD

Jose Contreras (4-3, 3.35) gets the nod Tuesday night against C.C. Sabathia (3-5, 5.47) and the Indians. On Wednesday it will be Javier Vazquez (4-3, 3.53) taking on Paul Byrd (2-3, 3.61). And on Thursday, Mark Buehrle (2-5, 5.27) looks to get on track against left-hander Aaron Laffey (2-2, 1.35).

On Friday, Floyd kicks off the series against Ervin Santana (6-1, 2.97) and the Angels.