GDT: 6/10/08 - DET (26-37) VS CWS (37-26) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- The Tigers just split with the team experts said should sit near the top of the division. Now they face the team actually sitting on top.

After taking two of four from the Indians, the Tigers host the American League Central-leading White Sox for a four-game series at Comerica Park. The Tigers, preseason favorites to win the division, trail the White Sox by 11 games.

"The White Sox have played tremendous," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "You tip your hat to them. We haven't played good enough yet."

The White Sox come into Comerica for the second time this season riding the longest win streak in the Majors. After manager Ozzie Guillen's tirade in Tampa, his team went 7-0 on its recent homestand, sweeping the Royals and Twins.

The Tigers have struggled against the White Sox this season, earning just one win in six tries.

The White Sox swept a three-game set at Comerica Park in the season's first weekend. The next weekend, the Tigers won the first game of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field, but the White Sox responded with back-to-back shutout wins -- including an 11-0 drubbing in the finale.

In six games, the White Sox outscored the Tigers and their star-studded offense 46-15.

To beat out the White Sox, or any other AL Central team for the division title, the Tigers need to consistently win series', especially against division opponents. That hasn't happened so far this season. The Tigers have won only five of 21 series and own a 7-19 division record.

The Tigers have to get rolling at some point if they hope to make any noise. A series against the division leaders would be a good place to start.

"Hopefully it's a long, long way from over," Leyland said. "If we start playing the way we're capable, we got a chance to hang in there. If we don't, we won't."

2008 Interleague Schedule
• May 16-18: at Diamondbacks
• June 13-15: vs. Dodgers
• June 16-18: at Giants
• June 20-22: at Padres
• June 24-26: vs. Cardinals
• June 27-29: vs. Rockies


Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Nate Robertson (3-6, 6.03 ERA)
Though Robertson has split wins and losses over his last four outings, he owns a 6.00 ERA in that span along with 11 walks over 24 innings as he struggles to find his command. He gave up five runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings at Oakland in his last outing, using up 109 pitches in the process. His only start against the White Sox this year came in the season's first week, when Chicago scored five runs in as many innings.

CWS: RHP Jose Contreras (6-3, 2.76 ERA)
Contreras has thrown six straight quality starts and is 4-0 in that span. He threw seven strong innings in his last start against Kansas City, surrendering just four hits and one run. His first two starts of the season came against Detroit, and those two games represent a majority of his struggles this year. He's 0-1 against the Tigers this season, having allowed eight earned runs in 11 2/3 innings. He walked seven batters in those two games, though, and his command has significantly improved since -- as he has issued just 10 walks in his last six starts.


Tidbits

Michael Hollimon, named the No. 4 prospect in the Tigers' system by Baseball America before the season, made his Major League debut on Monday night. He came in at shortstop in the top of the ninth and fouled out to third in his only at-bat. ... Leyland said after the game reliever Aquilino Lopez should return to the team on Tuesday from the bereavement list. ... Placido Polanco had his fourth four-hit game. He is hitting .342 in his last 39 games.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next
• Wed., June 11: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander, 2-9, 5.05 ERA) vs. White Sox (RHP Javier Vazquez, 6-4, 3.64 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Thurs., June 12: Tigers (LHP Kenny Rogers, 4-4, 5.13 ERA) vs. White Sox (LHP Mark Buehrle, 3-6, 4.80 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Fri., June 13: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 5-2, 3.70 ERA) vs. Dodgers (Derek Lowe, 4-5, 4.15 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS

Chi White Sox AVG
Cabrera, SS .263
Pierzynski, C .297
Quentin, LF .277
Konerko, 1B .216
Thome, DH .212
Dye, RF .299
Swisher, CF .228
Crede, 3B0 .291
Ramirez, 2B .291

Detroit AVG
:curtis: Granderson, CF .236
:placido: Polanco, 2B .289
Guillen, 3B .300
Ordonez, RF .315
Cabrera, 1B .270
Larish, DH .136
:edgar: Renteria, SS .267
:pudge: Rodriguez, C .245
:clevlen: Clevlen, LF .125

74 degrees at Game Time



GO TIGERS!

SWEEP THE SOX

76 degrees;


White Sox Suck!



GO TIGERS GO

Anyone following the game? Thome hit a HR which means Tigers are losing 1-0. How surprising

I can't until 8 PM

Well sox just scored again

Sox 2-0

Bottom of third

:clevlen: grounds out

:curtis: flies out

:placido: singles

pops out in foul territory

end of 3

Sox 2-0

just gotta keep the damage to a minimum. We gotta at least get on the board!

Quentin grounds out

Konerko - singles

Thome - k

Dye - flies out

grounds out

ground rule double

rbi double

Sox 2-1

Good job Larish!

:edgar: hard liner - out

:pudge: flies out

end of 4

Sox 2-1

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

rbi double

Sox 2-1

No shutout today!

Swisher k

Crede flies out

Ramirez singles

With O Cabrera batting - Ramirez caught stealing by Pudge!