Detroit @ Chicago preview

Detroit at Chi. White Sox

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2013 ) Detroit 2, Chi. White Sox 6

Victories have been hard to come by for the Detroit Tigers recently, but no other team has the option of turning to the major-league leader in wins. Max Scherzer looks to get the American League Central leaders back on track with his 18th victory Tuesday when they continue their three-game road set against the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers lead their division by 6½ games over the second-place Kansas City Royals, but have dropped three of four since winning 12 in a row from July 26-Aug. 8.

The White Sox won for the second time in three tries with Monday’s 6-2 victory, but their latest triumph was a rare one for the team with the second-worst record in the AL (45-72). Chicago is 14-34 overall against the AL Central and has lost 23 of its last 28 to division rivals. Making matters worse, the White Sox – who are 15-38 over their last 53 games against the Tigers – have lost each of the last five times they have faced Scherzer.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, WCIU (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Max Scherzer (17-1, 2.84 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Hector Santiago (3-7, 3.43)

Scherzer, the owner of the best start to a season since Roger Clemens opened 20-1 in 2001, rolled to his fourth victory in as many outings following Thursday’s 10-3 road triumph over the Cleveland Indians, giving up two runs in seven frames. The St. Louis native has yielded four hits or fewer and lasted at least six innings in all four of his turns since the All-Star break. Scherzer has defeated Chicago twice in that span and is 7-4 with a 2.31 in 15 career starts against the White Sox.

Santiago surrendered four runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings in Wednesday’s 6-5 victory over the New York Yankees, thanks to some rare offensive support. The 25-year-old settled for his sixth no-decision in eight tries and is winless since June 21 in large part because Chicago has scored two runs or fewer six times over that stretch. Santiago will face Detroit for the third time in his last five turns – both losses – and has yet to record a victory in his career against the Tigers (0-2) despite a 2.63 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cabrera hit his 358th career homer Monday, tying him with Yogi Berra and Carlos Lee for 80th-most all-time.

2. Chicago SS Alexei Ramirez is batting .381 with two home runs and eight RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak.

3. Detroit has scored at least 10 runs in five of Scherzer’s starts and provided him with 6.17 runs of support, the highest mark in the majors.

PREDICTION: Tigers 3, White Sox 1