GDT: 9/8/10 - DET (69-70) VS CWS (77-61) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Detroit can continue to spoil Chicago's hopes

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com

The White Sox may have had the Tigers' number for quite some time, but that doesn't mean Detroit isn't more than capable of dashing Chicago's playoff hopes.

Despite Tuesday's 9-1 blowout loss, the White Sox are 8-5 against the Tigers this season, and 5-2 at Comerica Park. Chicago also has dominated Detroit for more than the past decade, going 9-1-1 in the past 11 season series.

But as Justin Verlander showed Tuesday, Detroit's starting pitchers have the ability to silence opposing bats, which they have been doing of late. In the past 18 games, Detroit's starters have posted a 9-1 record with a 2.46 ERA.

On Wednesday, Jeremy Bonderman (7-9, 5.25 ERA) will look to continue that trend against Chicago's John Danks (13-9, 3.56). The White Sox enter the day 4 1/2 games behind the American League Central-leading Twins.

Bonderman will return to the mound after a so-so outing in his last start, when he pitched on 10 days' rest because of inflammation around his right rib cage, which caused him to miss a start.

He looked off his game early against the Royals -- allowing four runs in the second inning -- but settled down and didn't allow a run over the next 5 1/3 innings. On Wednesday, Bonderman said his ribs are feeling great and he hasn't had to do anything differently between starts.

"I was a little rusty," Bonderman said of his last outing. "It had been like 10 days since I'd thrown. I'm just trying to find a rhythm and get back at it."

White Sox: Konerko likely to return
Chicago played Tuesday without two of its most important players, and while first baseman Paul Konerko (stiff lower back) will likely be back Thursday, skipper Ozzie Guillen said second baseman Gordon Beckham -- who was a late scratch Tuesday -- probably will not play in the series' final two games. Beckham was hit by a pitch in Cleveland on Aug. 30, but the pain has moved from the outer half of the heel, the point of impact, to the inner palm. "This is the worst my hand has felt in three days of playing, and I don't know why it hurts worse now," said Beckham, who returned to action for Saturday's doubleheader against Boston and had played the past four games. "I'm having trouble swinging the bat, so I don't want to get in there and give us less of a chance."

Tigers: Rhymes making an impact
Rookie second baseman Will Rhymes is continuing to make his presence known for the Tigers, and Tuesday marked his 15th straight game reaching base safely. Rhymes has played almost every day for the past three weeks, hitting in the two-hole, while batting .326 in his past 25 games. Rhymes, who spent time with the club earlier in the season, said he's feeling more secure in his second stint. "It's just a little bit more comfort, but it makes a difference, even being a little more comfortable, just feeling a little more settled in my role as far as I'm not definitely getting sent down in a few days and trying the most of a short period of time," Rhymes said. "So I think in that sense, I feel a lot better. I feel better, but it's not like a drastic difference."

Worth noting
White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski extended his 14-game hitting streak on Tuesday.

... Johnny Damon's home run in the first inning Tuesday was his first since July 28. Seven of his eight home runs have come at Comerica Park.

... Chicago reliever Gregory Infante and pinch-hitter Brent Morel made their Major League debuts Tuesday.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (7-9, 5.25 ERA)
Bonderman struggled early in his last start at Kansas City, allowing four runs on five hits in the second inning. But he recovered nicely and didn't allow a run over the next 5 1/3 innings as the Tigers rallied to win.

WHITE SOX: LHP John Danks (13-9, 3.56 ERA)
With the team needing every win possible to keep pace with Minnesota, the White Sox will go with Danks on three days rest as opposed to Carlos Torres or Lucas Harrell. Making his 28th start of the year, Danks is 6-2 in his last 11 trips to the mound.




INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Zach Miner (Partial tear in right elbow, 60-day DL on March 26, Had successful Tommy John surgery May 28, Out for Season),
• LHP Bobby Seay (Torn rotator cuff, 60-day DL on March 26, surgery on September 15, Out for Season),
• OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture, 15-day DL on July 25, Had surgery surgery Aug. 25, Out for Season),
• INF Danny Worth (bruised left heel, 15-day DL on August 4, Out for Season),
• RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29, Underwent elbow surgery July 12, Out for Season).
• Carlos Guillen (Bruised left knee, 15-day DL on August 23, Out for Season)


Out for Season



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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Thursday, September 9,
TIGERS (RHP Rick Porcello (8-11, 5.20 ERA)) VS WHITE SOX (RHP Gavin Floyd (10-11, 3.78 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Friday, September 10,
TIGERS (RHP Armando Galarraga (4-5, 3.89 ERA)) VS ORIOLES (RHP Kevin Millwood (3-15, 5.38 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUP:

Wednesday: Cabrera out of Tigers lineup

Not surprisingly, Miguel Cabrera will not be starting for the Tigers tonight after leaving last night's game with more bicep tendinitis in his left shoulder. Johnny Damon also has a day off, so the middle of the Tigers order is looking pretty good with Ryan Raburn batting third, Brennan Boesch in at cleanup and Casper Wells batting fifth.

TIGERS

1. Jackson, CF
   
2. Rhymes, 2B
   
3. Raburn, LF
   
4. Boesch, DH
   
5. Wells, RF
   
6. Peralta, SS
   
7. Inge, 3B
   
8. Kelly, 1B
   
9. Avila, C
   

P: Jeremy Bonderman