Game Day Thread: Tigers look for first sweep of season behind Justin Verlander

Chicago White Sox (24-30) vs. Detroit Tigers (27-28)

First Pitch: 1:10 EST

Weather: 81°F • Partly Cloudy • 14% PoP

Stadium: Comerica Park – Detroit, MI

Media: Fox Sports Detroit / 97.1 The Ticket

Tigers Lineup:

  1. Dixon Machado (2B)
  2. Nicholas Castellanos (3B)
  3. Miguel Cabrera (1B)
  4. J.D. Martinez (DH)
  5. Justin Upton (LF)
  6. John Hicks (C)
  7. Mikie Mahtook (RF)
  8. JaCoby Jones (CF)
  9. Jose Iglesias (SS)

Pitching Matchup:

David Holmberg (0-0, 2.51 ERA) vs. Justin Verlander (4-4, 4.50 ERA)

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What to Watch for: 

Oct 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Verlander went seven strong innings of one-run baseball against the Kansas City Royals in his last start, a game in which the Tigers ended up losing. It was a turnaround performance from Verlander who only went 5.2 against Houston, giving up six earned runs. Look for JV to be his typical self today against a White Sox team he dominated on Opening Day.

The Tigers came into this series with a minus 20 run differential against the White Sox. In two games that number has dropped to minus-1, as the Tigers have outscored the White Sox 25-6 in two games. Look to see the offense continue to grind out at-bats and put up some more crooked numbers on the home side of the scoreboard.

Looking Back: 

Sep 25, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (27) pitches in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Zimmermann figured out his slider yesterday, keeping the White Sox lineup off-balance by using it 36.3% of the time. He went six very strong innings, limiting seven hits to just one run on the day, picking up his fifth win of the season.

The offense was again raking all day hitting four home runs and scoring double-digit runs for the second day in a row. What may be even more impressive is the fact that they only had one strikeout on the day. Another positive sign for the Tigers is that fact that Jose IglesiasNicholas Castellanos, and Miguel Cabrera all are swinging the bats better as the calendar flips to June.

Before You Watch:

https://detroitsportsnation.com/detroit-tigers-news/ajreilly/section-313-seat-no-8/93469/

https://detroitsportsnation.com/detroit-tigers-news/ajreilly/section-313-seat-no-9/93605/

AJ Reilly
AJ Reilly

A.J. is a lifelong baseball fan and an avid storyteller. His debut novel, The Askren Boys, won the Literary Classics Gold Medal and Seal of Approval in November of 2018. When not writing, he is spending time with his wife Jessica, son Jack, daughter Nora, and new arrival Teddy. A.J. lives in Metro Detroit.