GDT: 9/9/10 - DET (70-70) VS CWS (77-62) - 1:05 p.m. ET

White Sox try to stay on Twins' heels

By Bailey Stephens / MLB.com

The White Sox are within striking distance of the Twins in the AL Central. But as the calender rolls on, Chicago's chances to make a move to the top of the division grow more numbered.

Chicago will try to wrap up its four-game series in Detroit on a winning note, while the Tigers have their own ideas about impacting the playoff race. After the White Sox picked up the opener, the Tigers' pitching has dominated Chicago's bats in the past two games.

Prior to entering Detroit, the White Sox rolled through Cleveland and Boston, going 7-0 before dropping the previous two games. But they have struggled to pick up ground on the surging Twins.

If it wants to catch Minnesota, Chicago will need to start providing its starters with offensive support. That start comes on Thursday, as the Sox will attempt to back up Gavin Floyd. Floyd, who has been more consistent for the White Sox than his record might indicate, is looking to get back to .500 on the season. Floyd carries a 3.78 ERA into Thursday's finale and hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last three starts. That's particularly impressive, considering that he's battled Boston and New York in two of those starts. In his last outing, Floyd earned the win by holding the Red Sox to just one run over six innings.

The Tigers might have to get their play their spoiler role without Miguel Cabrera, who is still day-to-day following a recurrence of biceps tendinitis on Tuesday. Cabrera sat out of Wednesday's game but is hopeful he can return for the finale. He won't try to force his way back if his swing is still bothered by the pain in his left shoulder. Cabrera thinks he'll have a good idea of his availability by Thursday morning.

"I'm going to make sure tomorrow [that] I'm 100 percent [ready] to play," Cabrera said. "I hope to take batting practice and swing fully."

With or without Cabrera, the Tigers' offense has been humming along nicely -- getting strong contributions from Brandon Inge and Ryan Raburn, among others. Inge has continued his hot hitting at home, batting .340 with 10 doubles, four triples and 26 RBIs in his last 39 games at Comerica Park, dating to May 30. Inge hit a two-run single in Wednesday night's win. Raburn is swinging an equally good bat over his last 31 games, hitting .339 going back to Aug. 5.

White Sox: Beckham's X-rays negative
Gordon Beckham got some good news on Wednesday, as a second set of X-rays on his right hand came back negative. Beckham was hit on the hand by a pitch last Monday. The pain Beckham is feeling is more muscular than anything else and will likely keep him out of the lineup until at least Friday when the White Sox open a series at home against the Royals.

"So it's frustrating for me because we have 24 games left and I know where we are in the standings -- and I want to play and help the team out," said Beckham. "But at the same time, the best case for this is some rest and that's the truth. That's the only thing that's going to help it. But the pain threshold will go low enough to where I can play."

Tigers: Porcello steady
Detroit's Thursday starter, Rick Porcello, endured a rocky period earlier this season but has rebounded nicely heading into his last start against the Royals. Porcello allowed four runs in seven innings in that game, but struck out five while walking one. Perhaps frustrating for the young hurler, he wasn't even hit particularly hard, but rather beaten with some bloop hits.

"I thought he was good, real aggressive," manager Jim Leyland said. "He kept the ball on the ground for the most part. I thought he pitched well. I think he got a little frustrated that one inning when they got those runs with two outs with an infield chopper and a little dunker. That's all part of the game, but he kept his composure pretty good."

Worth noting
Chicago's defense has committed 17 errors in its last 14 games.

... A.J. Pierzynski ended his 14-game hitting streak on Wednesday with an 0-for-3 night.

... Omar Vizquel has hit only two homers this season and both have come against Detroit.

... The Tigers are now 6-8 against the White Sox this season.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Rick Porcello (8-11, 5.20 ERA)
Porcello has won his last three starts, all of them seven-inning performances, and has five quality starts in his past six outings. He's winless in three starts against the White Sox this year but scattered two runs over seven innings August 14.

WHITE SOX: RHP Gavin Floyd (10-11, 3.78 ERA)
Floyd didn't have his best stuff against the Red Sox Saturday night but still pitched well enough to pick up his 10th victory. The White Sox rotation now features four starters with double-digit win totals. Floyd is 5-0 lifetime vs. Detroit.


RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers defeated the White Sox 5-1 last night at Comerica Park. Jeremy Bonderman (8-9) limited the White Sox to one run on three hits in eight innings of work to earn the victory. Ryan Raburn led the Tigers offense with two hits, including a double, while Alex Avila and Brandon Inge both finished with two RBI. The Tigers continue a seven-game homestand this afternoon with the final game of a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. The Tigers conclude the homestand with a three game set against the Baltimore Orioles beginning Friday evening.

HOME SWEET HOME: The Tigers continue a seven-game homestand this afternoon against the White Sox at Comerica Park, where the club has posted a 8-1 record in the last nine games. The Tigers are batting .323 (104x322) with 25 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 59 RBI during the nine-game stretch. Tigers pitchers have posted a 1.80 ERA (85.0IP/17ER) with 68 strikeouts during the nine games.

BEST OF INTENTIONS AGAIN: Austin Jackson was intentionally walked last night against the White Sox, the club’s 46th intentional walk of the season. The 46 intentional walks are the most by a Tigers team since posting 50 intentional walks during the 1993 season.

ROOKIE HIT PARADE: Tigers rookie hitters collected three hits last night against the White Sox, raising the season total to 439 hits by Tigers rookies. The 439 rookie hits are the most by a Tigers team since posting 442 rookie hits in 1961. (Source: STATS, LLC)

OFFENSE ON THE UPTICK: Tigers hitters are batting .291 (219x752) with 41 doubles, six triples, 22 home runs and 114 RBI over the last 20 games dating back to August 19. The Tigers lead the American League with 119 runs scored, 114 RBI and 41 doubles during that stretch, while they are second with the .291 batting average and six triples and tied for fourth with 22 home runs.

FOCUSING ON THE CENTRAL: Today’s game against the White Sox is the final game of a 10-game stretch against American League Central opponents. The Tigers have posted a 12-6 record in the last 18 games against division opponents after posting a 17-24 record in the club’s first 41 games against division opponents this season.

PERALTA PICKING UP THE PRODUCTION: Jhonny Peralta finished with one hit last night against the White Sox and has hit safely in 15 of his last 19 games. He is batting .361 (26x72) with four doubles, three home runs and 17 RBI over his last 19 games dating back to August 19.

INGE IGNITES AT COMERICA PARK: Brandon Inge enters today’s game against the White Sox batting .340 (48x141) with 10 doubles, four triples, two home runs and 26 RBI in his last 39 games at Comerica Park dating back to May 30. Inge is the all-time leader at Comerica Park with 529 hits, 72 home runs and 310 RBI during the history of the park.

RABURN ON A ROLL: Ryan Raburn enters today’s game against Chicago hitting .339 (39x115) with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 25 RBI over his last 31 games dating back to August 5. He is second in the American League with 25 RBI, 18 extra-base hits and a .670 slugging percentage during that stretch, while he is tied for second with 10 home runs and seventh with a .339 batting average.

INGE CLOSING IN ON 200 DOUBLES: Brandon Inge enters today’s game against Chicago one double shy of 200 during his major league career. With one more double he would become the 26th player in franchise history to collect 200 doubles.

STARTERS ON FIRE AT HOME: Tigers starting pitchers have recorded a quality start in 10 of the last 11 games at Comerica Park dating back to August 10. Tigers starters have posted a 8-3 record and 1.53 ERA (76.2IP/13ER) with 65 strikeouts over the 11 starts.

SINGLE A WEST MICHIGAN BEGINS PLAYOFFS: Single A West Michigan continues the Midwest League playoffs tonight at Lake County. The Whitecaps lost 4-2 last night at Fifth Third Ballpark and trail 1-0 in the best-of-three game series. It is the seventh consecutive season the Whitecaps have made the playoffs and the 11th time since becoming a Tigers affiliate in 1997.

LENNERTON EARNS TOPPS PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD IN FSL: Lakeland first baseman Jordan Lennerton has been named the Topps Player of the Month in the Florida State League for August. Single ALennerton hit .367 (40x109) with 17 runs scored, 10 doubles, seven home runs and 20 RBI in 29 games during the month.

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)


• 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)

• Saturday, September 11,
TIGERS (RHP Max Scherzer (10-9, 3.51 ERA)) VS ORIOLES (RHP Jeremy Guthrie (9-13, 3.89 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Sunday, September 12,
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (15-8, 3.53 ERA)) VS ORIOLES (RHP Chris Tillman (1-4, 7.42 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUP:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Will Rhymes, 2B
3. Johnny Damon, DH
4. Ryan Raburn, LF
5. Brennan Boesch, RF
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Don Kelly, 1B
8. Brandon Inge, 3B
9. Alex Avila, C