Detroit @ Chicago preview

Detroit at Chi. White Sox

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2013 ) Detroit 1, Chi. White Sox 5

Despite coming off a poor start last week, Rick Porcello has pitched like an ace against the Chicago White Sox recently. The American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers, who have dropped five of six, would like to see Porcello extend his recent mastery of the White Sox Tuesday as they continue their three-game set in Chicago. Max Scherzer lasted a season-low four frames in the series-opening loss, which featured first-inning ejections of Miguel Cabrera and manager Jim Leyland.

Porcello gave up three homers for the first time in 146 starts in Wednesday’s 20-4 loss in Boston, but is 3-0 with a 2.36 ERA in four outings against the White Sox this season. He’ll look to boost Detroit’s 4 ½-game lead in the division against last-place Chicago, which has won consecutive games following a nine-game losing streak. Another victory may be hard to come by for the White Sox if rookie Erik Johnson is unable to improve on his major-league debut, when he struggled with his command in a loss to the New York Yankees.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Rick Porcello (11-8, 4.76 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Erik Johnson (0-1, 4.50)

Porcello had won seven of his eight previous decisions prior to Wednesday, when he was hammered for nine runs (eight earned) over five frames in Detroit’s humiliating loss. The No. 27 overall pick of the 2007 draft ranks fourth in the majors with a 1.30 groundball-to-flyball ratio, but permitted three home runs to the Red Sox – matching the total he surrendered in six August starts. However, Porcello has dominated the White Sox recently, going 8-1 with a 2.50 ERA over the last 11 meetings.

Making his major-league debut on Wednesday, Johnson yielded five runs (three earned) and seven hits over six innings in a 6-5 road setback against the Yankees. The 23-year-old was much better across 24 minor-league outings, going a combined 12-3 with a 1.96 ERA between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. Johnson and Charlie Leesman are expected to draw starts for the remainder of the season as Chicago goes with a six-man rotation.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago 2B Gordon Beckham is 10-for-23 in his career against Porcello, with the resulting .435 average the best mark for any player with at least 20 at-bats against the Tigers’ right-hander.

2. Detroit, the second-highest scoring team in the majors, has scored a total of 11 runs in its six September losses.

3. White Sox 1B Adam Dunn needs one home run to tie Andre Dawson for 39th place on the all-time list with 438 homers.

PREDICTION: Tigers 5, White Sox 3