Chicago @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 17, 2018 ) Detroit 3, Chi. White Sox 1

The Detroit Tigers find themselves playing for pride with a mark 20 games below .500 and 17 1/2 games out of the first place in the American League Central, but one thing they have done well this season is keep the Chicago White Sox behind them in the division standings. The Tigers continue the back end of their six-game homestand Monday when they attempt to beat the White Sox for a fifth straight time in the opener of a three-game set.

Detroit (49-69) took two of three from Minnesota over the weekend following a winless six-game road trip, as Niko Goodrum finished 3-for-8 with two homers, five RBIs and three runs scored versus the Twins. The Tigers improved to 23-24 against division rivals with Sunday's 4-2 victory, although much of that success can be attributed to winning eight of nine their nine meetings with Chicago. The White Sox (42-75) wrapped up a 1-5 homestand with Sunday's 9-7 setback in the rubber match of their series against Cleveland, although they made things interesting with six runs over the final two frames. Adam Engel left his mark on the homestand defensively by robbing three hitters of home runs and put an emphatic halt to his 1-for-16 start at the plate in August on Sunday by going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (4-9, 4.30 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Artie Lewicki (0-2, 4.76)

Lopez has been sharp in two August outings after going 1-4 with a 7.39 ERA in July, but he had to settle for a second straight no-decision Tuesday despite allowing one run over seven frames against the New York Yankees. The 24-year-old was nearly as good five days earlier against Kansas City, permitting two runs over seven innings. Nicholas Castellanos (4-for-12, two doubles) has fared well against Lopez, who is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts against Detroit this season.

Lewicki will be given a shot to fill the vacancy in the rotation created by Mike Fiers' trade to Oakland last week after Jacob Turner was designated for assignment following his audition. The 26-year-old New Jersey native took both of his losses in his only two starts of the season in mid-June, giving up a combined seven runs (five earned) on 11 hits and three walks across 8 2/3 innings. Lewicki made his only career appearance against Chicago in relief May 26, yielding one run in three frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Tigers are 17-19 in one-run affairs but have won all four such contests against Chicago this season.

2. The seven-run outburst by the White Sox on Sunday was one shy of their total from the first five games of the homestand.

3. Castellanos (right foot bruise) did not play Sunday after he took a foul ball off his foot Saturday. He is considered day-to-day.

PREDICTION: White Sox 6, Tigers 4