An AL Central clash is on the horizon as the Detroit Tigers (62-66; 31-34 away) gear up to face the Chicago White Sox (31-97; 18-44 home) on Saturday evening. The venue for this matchup is Guaranteed Rate Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EST. The Tigers entered this series with a solid 5-1 advantage in their head-to-head encounters. Will the White Sox find a way to turn the tables this time?
Tigers Eyeing .500 with Star Pitcher
The Tigers have capitalized on their matchups against the struggling White Sox this season. They feel confident heading into Saturday’s game with Tarik Skubal, a leading contender for the Cy Young Award, taking the mound. Skubal has been a standout performer, leading all Major League pitchers in wins and earned run average (ERA). Additionally, he tops the American League in fielding independent pitching (FIP) and strikeouts. Recently, he has kept his last three opponents to under three runs and has already silenced the White Sox this season. With Detroit’s bullpen ranking 24th in Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Skubal’s performance will be crucial.
On the offensive side, 2024 has not been easy for the Tigers. They currently average 4.13 runs per game, which positions them 12th in the league. Their batting metrics show they rank 21st in strikeout rate, 22nd in slugging percentage, and 29th in on-base percentage (OBP). Their struggles are evident as they post a .662 OPS on the road. The big question remains: Can they overcome their batting woes against the White Sox on Saturday?
White Sox Struggling to Find Their Groove
Despite a few unexpected victories, the White Sox continue to grapple with a dismal season. As they return to their home field, they are just a handful of games away from reaching the century mark in losses before the month of September kicks in. On Saturday, Ky Bush will take the mound in an effort to stave off that unfortunate milestone. In his three career starts, he has allowed six runs but has struggled with control, issuing 15 walks in just 14.2 innings while striking out only 10 batters. The White Sox bullpen has been equally challenged, ranking 28th in both ERA and FIP. Fans will be eager to see how this pitching staff performs against a formidable opponent.
The White Sox offense has been the least effective in the league, averaging a mere 3.11 runs per game, making them the only team below 3.50 runs. They sit at the bottom in both OBP and slugging percentage, with a batting average ranking of 29th. Their strikeout and walk rates reflect their struggles as they rank 22nd and 29th, respectively. While they have a modest total of 81 stolen bases (17th), it hasn’t been enough to improve their overall performance. Despite these challenges, the team remains committed to competing every game.
Betting Insights for Tigers vs. White Sox
If the White Sox manage to score even a single run against Tarik Skubal, it would be quite a surprise. The ERA leader in MLB is expected to deliver another outstanding performance, aiming for his second scoreless outing against the White Sox. Detroit’s bullpen should have little difficulty handling the league’s least productive offense.
Meanwhile, with Bush on the mound, who has issued more walks than innings pitched, the situation appears dire for the White Sox. As they face off against a powerful Tigers lineup, expect a dominant performance from Detroit as they look to solidify their position in the AL Central.
