Chicago @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2018 ) Chi. White Sox 6, Detroit 1
Rain put a damper on Michael Kopech's much-anticipated debut for the Chicago White Sox, but the hard-throwing right-hander will get another chance to show his stuff Sunday in the finale of a four-game series at the Detroit Tigers. A 52-minute rain delay ended Kopech's debut after two scoreless innings with four strikeouts against Minnesota on Tuesday.
He has good reason to expect plenty of run support, as the White Sox have scored at least six runs in every win during an 8-3 stretch. Eight players had at least one hit for Chicago in Saturday's 6-1 victory, its fourth in the last five meetings with the Tigers. Jose Iglesias had three of Detroit's four hits Saturday to extend his hitting streak to a season-high eight games. Jordan Zimmermann, who has walked just one batter in 17 1/3 innings over his last three outings, gets the start for the hosts Sunday.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Michael Kopech (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (6-5, 4.18)
Kopech allowed three hits with one hit batter and no walks in a 52-pitch performance in his debut, and he hopes to be a bit more efficient the second time around. "I'm a little bummed out," he told reporters. "I wanted to go a little deeper in the game. I didn't realize my pitch count was as high as it was." The 22-year-old has 174 strikeouts in 128 1/3 innings between Triple-A and the majors.
Zimmermann has three quality starts in his last four outings, including six innings of one-run ball in a win over the Chicago Cubs his last time out. He was reached for 10 runs (nine earned) in 9 1/3 innings over two matchups with the White Sox - both on the road - earlier in the year. Matt Davidson is 6-for-12 with two home runs against the veteran from Wisconsin.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tigers LF Mikie Mahtook is 4-for-10 with two home runs during a three-game hitting streak.
2. White Sox OF/DH Daniel Palka is 17-for-45 in 11 career games against the Tigers.
3. Detroit will retire Hall of Famer Alan Trammell's No. 3 in a pregame ceremony Sunday.
PREDICTION: White Sox 6, Tigers 4