Detroit @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( May 18, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 6, Detroit 2
The happiest man in U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday might be Gavin Floyd.
Talk about being able to go about your business in peace and quiet.
While the Chicago White Sox hurler takes the mound in total anonymity on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers, all the attention with be on Armando Galarraga, who is coming off the most memorable one-hit shutout in the history of baseball.
You may have heard about Galarraga's last start.
The Tigers right-hander was deprived of the 21st perfect game in major-league history when umpire Jim Joyce blew a call at first base on what should have been the final out of the game against the Cleveland Indians.
The grace Galarraga showed over the missed call and the manner in which he accepted Joyce's apology may have earned the pitcher more respect than if he had actually pitched the perfect game.
It's practically forgotten now, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland planned to skip Galarraga, Detroit's fifth starter, in this turn through the rotation so he could keep the other Tigers starters pitching on their normal days rest. That plan, obviously, changed after Galarraga dominated the Indians.
Called up from Triple-A Toledo in mid-May, Galarraga will be making his fourth start and fifth appearance. He split his first two starts, but failed to pitch deep into either game, lasting 5 2/3 innings against the Boston Red Sox and 4 2/3 innings against Detroit.
It will be interesting to see how he handles all the notoriety that came with his last start and that will surely follow him the rest of the season.
He's no longer the 28-year-old pitcher who has a 21-18 career record who didn't even make the team out of spring training. He's the pitcher whose name is known around the country because he was robbed of a perfect game by an umpire who made a bad call.
Floyd has been one of several mysteries that have plagued the White Sox this season.
After winning 28 games the last two seasons, he has won twice in 11 starts in 2010. Floyd has gone seven innings only twice and the White Sox have won three times when he's pitched.
Floyd was awful in his last start, allowing six runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings against Texas.
There is some good news for the White Sox. Floyd has never lost to Detroit, going 5-0 with a 3.34 ERA in 12 starts. He has yet to face the Tigers this season.
The White Sox hoped to gain ground in the AL Central on their nine-game homestand, but instead their inconsistent play has continued. Chicago has lost two of three to both the Texas Rangers and Cleveland and needed a win in the final game of each series to avoid being swept.
The Tigers have also been struggling, dropping 10 of their last 15 games.