Chicago @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 7, 2019 ) Chi. White Sox 8, Detroit 1

Yoan Moncada has taken a step forward this season and looks to record his 12th multi-hit performance in 15 games when the Chicago White Sox open a three-game series against the host Detroit Tigers on Friday. Moncada has gone a torrid 29-for-62 (.468) - and scored 13 runs - during the stretch to raise his season average to .312.

The White Sox have dropped six of their last eight games during a time when Moncada has been on a stellar roll that impresses manager Rick Renteria. "His approach in general has been a little bit more aggressive, and certainly he has bat speed, the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark and hit the ball very hard," Renteria told reporters. "And he can do it from both sides of the plate." The Tigers have dropped nine of their last 12 overall games, and Thursday's 7-0 loss to Cleveland marked the 14th time they have been shut out this season. Detroit stranded 10 baserunners in the series finale and was outscored 16-3 in the three-game set while ending the campaign with a 1-18 record versus the Indians.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Cease (3-7, 6.18 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (1-11, 6.32)

Cease, who will be making his 14th start of the season, is winless in his last four turns. The 23-year-old settled for a no-decision against Seattle in his last outing after giving up one run and three hits over five innings. Cease has defeated the Tigers twice - winning at home on July 3, when he gave up three runs and four hits over five innings in his major-league debut, and again on Aug. 6 in Detroit after permitting two runs and seven hits in five frames.

Zimmermann has gone 0-3 over his last seven starts during a campaign in which he has won just one of his 21 turns. The 33-year-old lost to Baltimore in his last outing as he gave up four runs and eight hits over five innings. Zimmermann lost to the White Sox on April 19, when he surrendered five runs and six hits in 6 1/3 frames, and is 6-5 with a 5.92 ERA in 14 career turns versus the club.

WALK-OFFS

1. The White Sox are 8-4 versus the Tigers as they enter a stretch during which they complete the season series with seven meetings over their final 10 games.

2. Detroit DH Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-3 on Thursday after being hitless in 16 at-bats over his previous five contests.

3. Chicago 1B Jose Abreu, who has gone 3-for-19 with nine strikeouts over his last four games, is 11-for-26 with two homers and eight RBIs against Zimmermann.

PREDICTION: White Sox 7, Tigers 4