CHICAGO -- The White Sox reported to their pregame stretch about 20 minutes early on Tuesday, but it wasn't designed to put in any extra work for the start of this six-game homestand against the Indians and Angels.

Instead, a video of Brian Anderson's offseason training regimen was played on the Jumbotron. It showed the reserve center fielder lifting tires, and hitting them with a sledgehammer, among other things, using slow-motion and replay for extra effect.

Basically, a good time was had by all, aside from Anderson, who sought refuge among the coaches and media in the dugout.

"I make fun of people all the time, so it's about time somebody got me back," said Anderson, blaming the prank on Toby Hall, who had asked Anderson for the video under the guise of taking a look at this intense workout. "It's all a joke."

Such is the upbeat attitude permeating throughout a first-place team, riding a five-game win streak into Tuesday's series opener against the Indians. The White Sox have played the fewest home games of any team in the Majors, but also stand tied with Houston for the most road victories.

Even with sporadic early production from proven veterans such as Jim Thome, Paul Konerko and Nick Swisher, the White Sox have managed to push to the top of a division that has not played quite as tough as people expected.

"Everybody's kind of in there," Konerko said. "I guess that doesn't surprise me, but I guess the overall records of the teams that are in there, where the teams are at [surprises me]. I expected the first and last place teams not to be separated by a ton of games, which I think is true, right?

"What is Detroit, like five [back]? I expected that. But obviously, the teams and what order they're in ... that's a little bit of a surprise. Every team is pretty good. I figured all the teams in our division would play outside of our division well. So it's kind of surprising, but kind of not."

Prior to hitting his third home run in four at-bats off C.C. Sabathia, giving the White Sox a 2-0 lead in the second, Thome told the media he liked where his team stood. The pitching has been stellar, allowing three runs or less in 22 of its last 44 games, including four shutouts and seven games with one run allowed.

This team has also been steady defensively, and the offense has picked up with at least 10 hits recorded in nine of the last 13 games. The team average was .189 from April 26 to May 5, during which the White Sox posted a 2-7 record, but the club is 9-4 since May 6, during which it has hit .287 and scored 64 runs.

Now, the White Sox hope this run continues back at home in U.S. Cellular Field and keep the good times rolling.

"We're looking forward to this homestand," Thome said. "Hopefully coming back here will help things, and just keep us going in a good way."