Chicago @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 10, 2010 ) Detroit 0, Chi. White Sox 3
The Detroit Tigers have a chance to gain some ground in the AL Central race this week, taking on the division-leading Chicago White Sox in a four-game series.
Their charge could begin as early as Tuesday, as the teams are slated to play a doubleheader at Comerica Park.
The White Sox, who currently enjoy a seven-game lead over the third-place Tigers, will send left-hander Mark Buehrle to the mound for the first game. The Tigers will counter with right-hander Rick Porcello.
Buehrle is coming off a strong July, as he went 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts. He allowed 12 runs over 36 innings with 11 strikeouts and four walks over that stretch.
In his last start, Buehrle struggled against the Seattle Mariners. He lasted only five innings, allowing five runs and nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
Buehrle has yet to face the Tigers this season, but has a career record of 14-8 and 2.99 ERA in 28 games.
The White Sox scored all four of their runs in the fifth inning in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics. Brent Lillibridge had a three-run triple and Juan Pierre had a successful suicide squeeze to plate Lillibridge.
Porcello, meanwhile, has rebounded since coming back to the big leagues, although his record doesn’t show it. After starting 13 games with the Tigers, Porcello was sent down to Triple-A. He has since returned, and has made three starts since his latest recall, going 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA.
Still, those outings have been impressive for Porcello.
He went eight innings and allowed one run in a no-decision against the Cleveland Indians on July 17. Then, Porcello went six innings and allowed three runs in a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 24. Finally, in his last start, Porcello went 7 1/3 innings and allowed four runs in a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 29.
Porcello has lost both of his starts against the White Sox this season. In his last start against the South Siders, Porcello lasted only 3 1/3 innings after allowing eight runs on eight hits.
Boston Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz shut down the Tigers for eight innings on Sunday. They eventually scored three runs in the ninth to tie the game, but then lost it in the bottom of the frame in a 4-3 defeat to the Red Sox.
Miguel Cabrera had a two-run double, and Jhonny Peralta had a RBI single to pace Detroit.