CHICAGO — Relaxed and loose, some of the Tampa Bay Rays wore ski caps and earflaps for a workout today, only to find sunny skies and crisp temperatures not requiring extra protection.

The Rays were ready for the elements. Then again, they were prepared for everything the Chicago White Sox did in the opening two games of their AL playoff series.

"You see a group of kids there — I won't say happy just to be there — just like enjoying the moment," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, contrasting the demeanor of his veteran team and the younger Rays. "We have a veteran clubhouse, veteran guys. They go about their business a different way."

The Rays were ready to add another chapter to this remarkable season, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series heading into Game 3 on Sunday.

One of the biggest differences in the first two games was Tampa Bay's ability to deliver clutch hit. The White Sox left 12 runners on in Friday's 6-2 loss and were just 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position in the first two games in Florida.

Reliant on homers all year — they led the majors with 234 during the regular season — the White Sox hope a return home will rejuvenate their offense. They were 54-28 in their home park this year — only the Rays and Red Sox were better.

Matt Garza, 11-9 with a 3.70 ERA, will start for Tampa Bay, which went from a major league-worst 96 losses last season to 97 victories this year.

Lefty John Danks, who beat Minnesota on Tuesday in a one-game tiebreaker for the AL Central, will start for Chicago, which would host Game 4 on Monday — if the White Sox get that far.

"I don't want to mess around," said Rays rookie star Evan Longoria, who homered twice in Tampa Bay's 6-4 victory in the opener. "I don't want to give these guys any momentum. ... We really don't want to let them bounce back and give them a sense that they can actually come back and win this thing. We have to bury them as soon as we can."

The White Sox, 4-18 this season on artificial turf, will be glad not to have a roof over their heads.

They were swept by the Twins in the Metrodome late last month, falling out of first. They had to win the final game of the season against Cleveland last Sunday, a makeup game against Detroit the next day and the one-game showdown with the Twins at home just to make the playoffs.

Winning three straight to get in doesn't necessarily translate to their situation now. But the White Sox, who still have several core players from their 2005 World Series winner, are confident they can rebound.

"You're not playing Cleveland, whose season is ending, or Detroit, who flew in on a makeup day. Tampa Bay is a quality team," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said.

"But it doesn't change the fact that we know how to go about it. And we went about it the right way in those games, and we'll do the same tomorrow. If we don't win tomorrow, it's not going to be because we're tight. It'll be because we got beat."

Garza, who had a dugout altercation with catcher Dioner Navarro in June during a game against Texas, has toned down his emotions.

While with the Twins, he faced the White Sox three times, going 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA. Now he starts one of the most important games in Tampa Bay's history, with a chance for the Rays to make the AL championship series.

"He's more under control," manager Joe Maddon said. "He does not get emotionally bound up. ... Because of that he's been a better teammate. He has done something kind of unusual, and kind of changed his personality and the way he is in the middle of a baseball season — to his credit, for the better."

Danks' outward demeanor is cool, and he was able to become a more effective pitcher and 12-game winner in his second major season by cutting his homers down from 28 to 15. Against the Twins last week, he allowed only two hits in eight shutout innings, by far the biggest win of his career.

"I like pitching in these kind of games," he said. "Obviously, we didn't want to be in this situation. I think I did pretty well the other time and, hopefully, I can, you know, continue to pitch that way."