Detroit @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2019 ) Detroit 0, Chi. White Sox 0

The Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers have been out of playoff contention for a while, so it's only appropriate their final series of the season is struggling to get off the ground. The White Sox will attempt to host a doubleheader to begin a three-game series against the Tigers for the second straight day Saturday after Friday's scheduled twin bill got rained out.

Jose Abreu opens the final weekend of the season with an American League-best 123 RBIs after going 2-for-5 and driving in one run on Thursday while Tim Anderson extended his hitting streak with 13 games and leads the majors with a .338 batting average. The Tigers finished their home slate with 59 losses, matching the major-league record set by the St. Louis Browns in 1939, after stranding 10 baserunners in Thursday’s 10-4 setback against AL Central champion Minnesota. Detroit has lost eight of its last nine games and embarks on the final road trip of the season with a slightly better record (24-53) away from home, including five consecutive defeats. Miguel Cabrera - batting .370 versus the White Sox in 2019 - enters the final series of the year tied with Stan Musial and Willie Stargell for 31st place on the all-time list with 475 homers, needs one double to tie Wade Boggs (578) for 22nd and is four RBIs shy of Cal Ripken Jr. (1,695) for 28th.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (9-11, 4.57 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (9-15, 5.57)

Boyd has a chance to reach the 10-win mark in a season for the first time after going 3-1 over his last four starts despite posting a 5.24 ERA over that span. The Oregon State product, whose 234 strikeouts ranks 10th in the majors, picked up the victory in Sunday's victory over the White Sox after yielding three runs and fanning six in five frames. Abreu (13-for-30) and Eloy Jimenez (3-for-6) have each homered twice off Boyd, who is 2-1 with a 4.96 ERA in three starts against Chicago this season.

Lopez began the month with a dominant showing in a complete-game effort at Cleveland but has been pounded for a total of 16 runs and 27 hits - including seven homers - while losing each of his last three starts. The 25-year-old was tagged for five runs and three of those blasts opposite Boyd on Sunday in Detroit. Victor Reyes (6-for-14) and John Hicks (5-for-14) have each homered off Lopez, who is 1-3 with a 5.48 ERA in four starts versus the Tigers in 2019.

WALK-OFFS

1. The initial doubleheader was scheduled due to a rainout on July 2. With both teams so far out of contention, Major League Baseball decided not to schedule four games in two days, meaning both teams will only play 161 games.

2. Jimenez (ear-throat infection) and OF/2B Leury Garcia (shoulder) both missed Thursday’s contest but were in the lineup Friday.

3. Lugo is 10-for-20 during his five-game hitting streak and 9-for-20 in five games.

PREDICTION: Tigers 5, White Sox 4