The Tigers bounced back from a brutal west-coast road trip by securing a series win over the division rival Minnesota Twins over the weekend. The 4-2 victory on Sunday to seal the series came on a day in which the franchise honored new Hall of Fame inductee Jack Morris and retired his No. 47.
UP NEXT
The Tigers (49-69) will stay within the American League Central to close out their current six-game homestand. They will welcome in the Chicago White Sox (42-75) for a three-game series that begins on Monday.
It’s been a rough go on the south side of the Windy City all season long and it has continued into the second half. Following their loss to the Cleveland Indians on Sunday, the White Sox are just 9-13 since the All-Star break, winning just one of their seven series played. The bats for Chicago have gone quite recently as well, being held to three runs or fewer in seven of their last nine contests.
The Tigers have taken care of business vs. the White Sox this year, winning eight of nine games against the Pale Hose, including two of three in Chicago’s first trip to Comerica Park back during Memorial Day weekend.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1 | Reynaldo Lopez (White Sox) vs. Artie Lewicki (Tigers)
Reynaldo López (4-9, 4.30 ERA) has been very good in his last two starts, going seven innings in both outings and allowing just three runs combined. It comes after a seven-game stretch in which the ERA was over 7.00. The 24-year-old has an ERA close to 5.00 in 12 road starts this season but has done some solid work against the Tigers this year (2.25 ERA in three starts vs. DET).
The Tigers are going to give Artie Lewicki (0-2, 4.76 ERA) at least one opportunity to start, like more depending on how it goes. Lewicki is taking the rotation spot left by Jacob Turner, who was filling in for the recently-traded Mike Fiers but lasted one inning in his only spot start before being DFA’d last week. The 25-year-old Lewicki last pitched on August 8, tossing three innings of relief and allowing one run, striking out five of the 10 batters he faced. He’s started two of his 12 appearances with the Tigers this season (5 ER in 8.2 IP).
Game 2 | Lucas Giolito (White Sox) vs. Blaine Hardy (Tigers)
The dreadful season for Lucas Giolito (7-9, 6.23 ERA) has been pretty indicative of the White Sox’ season as a whole. The recently turned 24-year-old Giolito has the highest ERA among qualified pitchers in all of Major League Baseball and his 71 walks issued and 13 hit batsmen both lead the junior circuit. His previous start on August 8 against the New York Yankees marked the fourth time this year he allowed seven earned runs or more. Giolito has an ERA over 8.00 in his two starts against the Tigers this season.
The most recent outing for Blaine Hardy (4-4, 3.63 ERA) against the Los Angeles Angels. was a stark contrast to his previous one in which he carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics. Hardy against the Halos allowed five runs over five innings, including three homers, the first time he allowed a gopher ball since June 26. He does, however, hold a sparkling 1.46 ERA in two starts against the White Sox this season.
Game 3 | Carlos Rodon (White Sox) vs. Jordan Zimmermann (Tigers)
One cannot help but wonder where the White Sox would be had they had Carlos Rodón (3-3, 2.61 ERA) for an entire season. Rodón missed significant time this year after recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent last September. The 25-year-old has allowed just one run (zero earned) over his last two starts, a workload of 14 innings. His next start will match his total from all of last season (12).
Jordan Zimmermann (5-4, 3.98 ERA) turned in another solid outing last week against the Twins, allowing just two runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings of work. Both runs, however, were unearned, which helped his season ERA get back down under 4.00. Zimmermann now has a 1.42 ERA in two August starts after compiling a 4.55 ERA in five July starts. He will look to get over a big hurdle when he faces the White Sox, a team that has knocked him around this season (8.68 ERA in two starts vs. CWS).
HITTERS TO WATCH
White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson has absolutely worn out the Tigers this season. In the nine games head-to-head between the two clubs, Anderson is 11 for 30 with three homers, seven RBI, and six walks, all good for a 1.186 OPS. Unfortunately for Detroit, it might help the 25-year-old get back on track, who hit just .174 in six games last week.
Nicholas Castellanos got the day off on Sunday partly due to hitting a foul ball off his foot on Saturday. Should he be able to go Monday, don’t be surprised if he turns things around here against the White Sox. Nick this season against Chicago has a 1.048 OPS, picking up six extra-base hits and nine RBI along the way. It would be a welcomed sign for a guy is hitting just .216 since the start of July.
SERIES INFO
- Game 1 | Mon, Aug 13 @ 7:10 p.m. ET
- Game 2 | Tue, Aug 14 @ 7:10 p.m. ET
- Game 3 | Wed, Aug 15 @ 1:10 p.m. ET
All games can be seen on Fox Sports Detroit unless otherwise noted. Be sure to check your local listings for regional radio broadcasts.
