Chicago @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 15, 2018 ) Chi. White Sox 6, Detroit 5

The Chicago White Sox have played better than .500 baseball since July 11 and look to continue building confidence for next year when they visit the Detroit Tigers for the opener of a four-game set Thursday afternoon. The White Sox are 18-17 in their last 35 contests and have won six of the past eight after launching three homers in a 7-3 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday.

“We’ve picked it up offensively and our pitching has been really good,” Chicago outfielder Nicky Delmonico told reporters after homering for the fourth time in six contests Wednesday while extending his hitting streak to eight games. “We’ve been playing good defense, so it’s all clicking right now.” The White Sox hope to keep it going with rejuvenated veteran right-hander James Shields on the mound and Detroit counters with lefty Matthew Boyd, who came within an out of a no-hitter against Chicago last September. The Tigers have dropped six of their last eight contests after losing 8-2 on Wednesday to split a two-game series with the National League-best Chicago Cubs. Veteran Victor Martinez has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 contests at a .383 clip for Detroit while Tigers rookie Ronny Rodriguez boasts a career-high seven-game hitting streak.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH James Shields (5-14, 4.39 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (7-11, 4.27)

Shields has strung together three straight quality starts and posted seven in his past 10 outings despite going just 3-5 during that stretch. The 36-year-old Californian gave up three runs on six hits and two walks across seven innings to beat Kansas City last time out and has a 3.15 ERA in three August starts. Shields is 9-10 with a 4.44 ERA in 28 career games against the Tigers, including 0-2 with a 4.50 mark in 2018.

Boyd has won three of his last five starts with a 3.13 ERA in that span and will be facing the White Sox for the first time this season. The 27-year-old Oregon State product has been much better at home (5-3, 2.80 ERA) than on the road (2-8, 5.60) this year and is limiting opponents to a .218 batting average overall. Avisail Garcia is 9-for-21 with a pair of homers versus Boyd, who is 1-4 with a 4.99 ERA in nine career games against Chicago.

WALK-OFFS

1. The White Sox traded LHP Luis Avilan to Philadelphia in exchange for minor-league RHP Felix Paulino.

2. Detroit RF Nicholas Castellanos is 14-of-35 over the last nine games after registering three hits in Wednesday’s setback.

3. Chicago’s Joe McEwing is likely to manage his fourth straight game with Rick Renteria still being tested for lightheadedness.

PREDICTION: Tigers 5, White Sox 4