The Tigers have a chance to reclaim the division lead Saturday, but they'll have to go through Chris Sale, who takes the mound for the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park trying to win his ninth straight decision.
After winning the Central last season, Detroit (50-44) was the favorite to repeat behind Justin Verlander - the defending AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner - and newly acquired first baseman Prince Fielder.
Things haven't gone as expected for the Tigers, who haven't been in first place since they were tied with the White Sox (50-43) on April 23. They pulled within a half-game of Chicago on Friday, however, winning the series opener 4-2 thanks to eight strong innings from Verlander.
Verlander gave up a two-run homer to Alejandro De Aza in the third, but the Tigers scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the inning, including the go-ahead RBI double by Delmon Young.
The Tigers have won three straight and 11 of 13, led by their two offensive stars. Miguel Cabrera is hitting .400 with five homers and 12 RBIs over the last 13 games while Fielder is batting .383, driving in 15 runs in that stretch.
They'll try to keep that going against Sale (11-2, 2.11 ERA), the AL ERA leader and a contender to unseat Verlander as the Cy Young winner.
The left-hander is 8-0 with a 1.61 ERA in his last 10 outings. Despite allowing a season-high 10 hits Sunday at Kansas City, he limited the damage to one run over eight innings of a 2-1 victory for his third straight winning start.
After 10 career relief appearances versus Detroit, Sale made his first start against the Tigers on April 15, giving up three runs and five hits over five-plus innings of a 5-2 loss.
The White Sox turn to him after losing their third straight to fall to 3-5 on their 10-game road trip. Kevin Youkilis, Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko were a combined 0 for 12 Friday, with Youkilis, who sat out Thursday at Boston with a tight left hamstring, striking out three times.
Sale has allowed one run or fewer in seven of his 10 starts during his eight-game winning streak. He beat the Kansas City Royals in his last outing when he gave up one run in eight innings. Sale has walked just three batters in 30 1/3 innings over his last four outings. He gave up three runs and five hits in five innings in the early-season loss to Detroit.
Chicago hasn't dropped four in a row since a five-game skid April 24-28.
They'll try to get back on track against Rick Porcello (6-5, 4.66), who has won four straight starts against Chicago, including two this year.
Porcello beat Sale in April, surrendering one run and five hits over 7 2-3 innings, and was sharp again in a 3-1 win May 6. Alex Rios is 4 for 22 (.182) with two homers versus Porcello while A.J. Pierzynski is 3 for 16 (.188).
However, the right-hander struggled in his first start after the All-Star break, giving up five runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings of Detroit's 8-6 win over the Angels on Monday. He yielded 12 hits in 3 2-3 innings in his previous outing.
Porcello has given up 20 hits in just 9 1/3 innings over his last two starts, taking no-decisions in both. The rough spell follows a stretch in which he allowed one run and 10 hits in 13 innings during back-to-back victories. Porcello gave up just one run in each of his victories against the White Sox this season. He is 4-4 with a 5.50 ERA in nine career starts against Chicago.
White Sox RHP Gavin Floyd (elbow tendinitis) threw a bullpen session Friday and will likely come off the disabled list to start Monday’s game against the Minnesota Twins.
Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (three strikeouts in seven at-bats) and Austin Jackson (four strikeouts in five at-bats) are both hitless against Sale.
Chicago’s Paul Konerko is batting .391 with a homer and three doubles in 23 career at-bats against Porcello.
White Sox are 7-2 in their last 9 games as a favorite.
White Sox are 1-4 in their last 5 road games.
White Sox are 6-1 in Sales last 7 starts as a favorite.
White Sox are 5-1 in Sales last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
White Sox are 4-1 in Sales last 5 road starts.
White Sox are 4-1 in Sales last 5 starts as a road favorite.
White Sox are 4-1 in Sales last 5 starts vs. American League Central.
White Sox are 8-2 in Sales last 10 starts.
Tigers are 4-0 in their last 4 games as an underdog.
Tigers are 9-1 in their last 10 home games.
Tigers are 5-0 in Porcellos last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
Tigers are 4-0 in Porcellos last 4 starts.
Tigers are 5-2 in Porcellos last 7 home starts.
Tigers are 5-0 in Porcellos last 5 starts vs. White Sox.
White Sox are 9-24 in the last 33 meetings.
White Sox are 3-13 in the last 16 meetings in Detroit.
Chris Sale last 3 starts 1.61 (ERA) 1.030 (WHIP)
Rick Porcello last 3 starts 4.41 (ERA) 1.714 (WHIP)
I'm voting for Chris Sale today. Seems pretty logical with as solid as he has been. Porcello on the other hand tends to get beat up early and often. Somehow he's managed to get through it but i dont think that will be the case today. Chicago know they need to step up against these boys from Detroit and today is the perfect opportunity. Today we take the White Sox w/Sale on the mound. Good Luck.
CHI WHITE SOX -115
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