CHICAGO -- Even in defeat, White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy felt quite a bit better during his July 19 start in Kansas City compared to his final three first-half trips to the mound. Peavy allowed 14 earned runs on 23 hits over 16 1/3 innings as part of that stretch.

Peavy felt better throwing his slider against the Royals, a pitch also affected by the lack of arm strength he felt following a four-inning relief stint against the Nationals on June 25.

"You know, it's getting better. The other night it was certainly better. Guys were swinging and missing," said Peavy of the slider. "At the same time, I missed location-wise and they got hit a few times.

"Anything is going to be better than those last three starts before the break. I just didn't have arm strength, no arm velocity, and like I said, when you talk about velocity and your arm strength, it's not just your fastball. Everything else feeds off that.

"Throwing cutters, your cutter's not going to be as sharp, it's not going to be as crisp," said Peavy, who squares off against Detroit's Justin Verlander on Tuesday. "Your breaking ball. So certainly, I feel better, and I hope everything's as sharp as it can be."

Buehrle's future on South Side not certain

CHICAGO -- Mark Buehrle has allowed three runs or fewer in 15 straight starts, posting a 7-3 record with a 2.55 ERA over that stretch, and adding on to that total via Monday's 6-3 victory over the Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field.

The 32-year-old is turning in another stellar season during the final season of a four-year, $56 million contract. With this success in mind, the question was posed to White Sox general manager Ken Williams on Monday as to whether he thinks about Buehrle and his future fit in Chicago.

"Every day," Williams told MLB.com. "I think about all aspects of this club every single day.

"Maybe not the first day I was in Napa, [Calif.]," added Williams with a laugh, referring to his All-Star break vacation. "The second day, though. Every day."

A smiling Williams wasn't quite as jovial, though, when asked if Buehrle definitely could be considered part of the organization's 2012 plans and beyond.

"Oh, come on. You know I can't answer that question," Williams said. "Listen, I'm worrying about today. I can't put my arms around any part of that. I have to think about today."

Buehrle has full no-trade veto power, having played 10 years in the Majors and at least five for one team. If he's traded in 2011, a fifth year of this current deal kicks in at $15 million for the 2012 campaign. Buehrle told MLB.com back in Spring Training that he would think of approving a trade if it really helped the White Sox because they had done enough for him and his family over the course of his career.

But he would not go to any team just out of loyalty. After not yielding an earned run in six innings on Monday, Buehrle indicated his 2011 home is Chicago and his focus is on the American League Central title.

"I plan on being here throughout the end of the year," said Buehrle, after tying Ed Cicotte for seventh place in White Sox history with his 156th win. "That's all I have control over. I'm not the GM."

Of course, if the White Sox put on a strong run over the next week or so, the slim possibility of moving one of the faces of the franchise would disappear.

"He's been all right," said Williams, back in a humorous mode when addressing Buehrle's immense White Sox contributions. "He's had a good game here and there."

Alexei confident hot streak will come

CHICAGO -- A distinct pattern formed over Alexei Ramirez's previous three Major League seasons. He struggles in April and then picks up his game on offense as the weather gets warmer.

But that pattern has been reversed in 2011. Ramirez posted a .265 mark in April, hit .313 with three homers and 20 RBIs in May and then dropped to .263 in June and .215 in July. Ramirez has gone 5-for-26 in his past eight games.

"Things haven't exactly worked out to this point the way I have hoped," said Ramirez, through translator Jackson Miranda. "But by the same token, I feel good and we'll see what happens.

"Everyone knows how this time is always when I've gotten hot. So, this year, it's like during the winter time, I've played better than I have now. During this time is when I should be a lot hotter than I am compared to how the season started."

Hitting second hasn't altered the focus on offense for Ramirez, who has nine homers and 42 RBIs. He still believes a hot streak exists in the season's final two months.

"Definitely," Ramirez said. "There are a lot of games still left and it's just a matter of time."

Teahens hosting charity event

CHICAGO -- White Sox utility player Mark Teahen and his wife, Lauren, will be hosting a charity event on Wednesday night from 7-9 p.m. CT at the upstairs lounge of Rockit Bar & Grill River North in Chicago. The Summer Soiree is in support of Chrysalis, a domestic violence agency helping battered women and children, and will feature other White Sox players in attendance.

"Really, it's just kind of a little get-together, just a couple of hours of hanging out," said Teahen, whose wife volunteers at the shelter. "It's a rare opportunity to hang out and mingle with the guys."

Tickets are $30 purchased ahead of time, including access to a private reception with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. A silent auction and raffle also will take place the night of the event.

Third to first

• Paul Konerko's next at-bat will be the 7,000th of his career. Konerko also hit his 388th homer in Monday's 6-3 win, accounting for his 1,971st hit, while playing in career game No. 1,947.

• White Sox pitchers have a 2.01 ERA since the All-Star break, including a 2.03 mark for the starters.

• Adam Dunn is 2-for-68 vs. lefties this season and 17-for-140 at home.