Detroit @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 14, 2013 ) Detroit 6, Chi. White Sox 4
Max Scherzer hasn’t been asked to pitch following a Detroit Tigers’ loss during the second half of the season, but he’ll get his first chance to do so on Monday as he starts the opener of a three-game road set against the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers lost two of three to Kansas City and have dropped four of five overall - a stretch that began Tuesday against Boston as Scherzer was denied his 20th win. However, the first-time All-Star is 8-0 this season when Detroit is coming off a loss.
The Tigers’ slide has reduced their lead over Cleveland in the American League Central to 5 1/2 games, but they could catch a break against the last-place White Sox. Chicago snapped a nine-game slide with Sunday’s 4-2 win over Baltimore but has dropped seven of its last 10 versus Detroit. Adam Dunn homered in the victory as the White Sox (57-85) also avoided falling 30 games under .500 for the first time since 1976.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN (Detroit), CSN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Max Scherzer (19-2, 2.88 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Chris Sale (10-12, 2.97)
Scherzer fell short in his attempt to become the second pitcher in major-league history to open 20-1 despite allowing only two runs on five hits over seven frames at Boston. The loss marked only the third time this season the St. Louis native has failed to collect at least one win over a two-start stretch. Scherzer has dominated Chicago this season, going 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA while holding the White Sox to a .151 average in three starts.
Staked to a 4-1 lead when he left after 7 1/3 innings, Sale settled for a no-decision when his bullpen imploded during a five-run eighth in Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to the New York Yankees. The 13th overall pick of the 2010 draft was charged with three runs (two earned) but has posted 68 strikeouts in nine outings since the All-Star break - the second-highest total in the AL. Sale recorded his fourth complete game of the season in a 6-2 win on Aug. 12 in his last outing against Detroit.
WALK-OFFS
1. Scherzer outdueled Sale in their only head-to-head meeting of the season on July 22 for his 14th victory - a start that ignited a personal six-game winning streak that ended Tuesday.
2. Sale needs one strikeout to join Wilbur Wood and Gary Peters as the only left-handers in team history to record at least 200 in a single season.
3. Victor Martinez is 8-for-11 against Sale this season and has 20 career homers versus the White Sox - his highest total against any opponent.
PREDICTION: Tigers 3, White Sox 2