While building the best record in the major leagues, the Chicago White Sox have thrived in interleague play. And so have the surprising Cleveland Indians and most other American League teams.

Interleague play closes for the year after this weekend, with the White Sox and their AL brethren trying to finish off a strong season against the National League.

The White Sox play in one of this weekend’s marquee series, hosting the crosstown Cubs for three games. But rather than getting caught up in the hype, they say they will play with the same focus that has helped them to a major-league-best 49-22 record this season.

“I’m aware of it, but as players we don’t worry about it,” White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye said. “We look at it as another series. (There’s) a sold-out crowd, but you still have to go out there and do the little things to win ballgames.”

The AL has done them much better this season.

Heading into the weekend, the AL has gone 118-92 against the NL, nearly evening the all-time series between the leagues. The NL has a 1,080-1,078 record since interleague play began in 1997.

Cleveland leads the way this season with a 13-2 interleague record, with the White Sox just behind at 11-4. Ten of the AL’s 14 teams have winning records against the NL this year.

St. Louis and Washington both are 10-5, but 7-5 Florida and Philadelphia are the only other NL teams over .500 against the AL. Every club in the five-team NL West has a losing interleague record.

Interleague play has helped jump-start a few struggling AL teams this year. The New York Yankees were under .500 for the season before consecutive home sweeps of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cubs last week. Now 10-5 in interleague play, the Yankees play host to the hometown rival Mets this weekend.

No team benefited more than Cleveland. After taking two of three from Cincinnati in the first round of interleague play, the Indians opened the most recent round by winning twice in San Diego. They finished it with consecutive sweeps of San Francisco, Colorado and Arizona to move a season-high seven games over .500.

“I think timing was the key,” closer Bob Wickman said. “We began playing our best ball just when we got to that part of our schedule.”

The timing wasn’t nearly as good for teams such as the Cubs and Braves, both just 4-8 in interleague play. Chicago was forced to play without injured star pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior during the second round, while Atlanta was missing starters Mike Hampton and John Thomson, then watched Tim Hudson get hurt while losing six of nine during that stretch.

The worst records among NL teams belong to the Rockies and Mets, both 3-9 against AL teams. Not surprisingly, the Mets haven’t enjoyed playing against AL clubs.

“Interleague play is kind of weird to me. I’m ready to get back to playing our own guys,” manager Willie Randolph said when the Mets were swept last weekend in Seattle. “Maybe getting back to our league and guys we’re familiar with seeing will get us going.”