2020-09-12 19:10:00 EDT
The Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox meet Saturday in MLB action from Guaranteed Rate Field.
This will be the second installment of a three-game weekend set between these teams. In the series opener on Friday evening, Detroit jumped out to a three-run lead in the top of the sixth inning, but Chicago responded with four runs of their own and held on for a 4-3 victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The Tigers held Chicago to just three hits in the Friday game, but could only muster five hits themselves. Detroit’s Daz Cameron managed two RBI to lead the offense, and starting pitcher Casey Mize went 5.1 innings with one hit, two earned, two walks and five strikeouts.
For the Saturday starting pitcher role, the Tigers will send out Michael Fulmer. In seven starts this season, Fulmer is 0-1 with an 8.24 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 19.2 innings of work. Over his MLB career, Fulmer is 24-32 with a 3.99 ERA and 373 Ks in 475.2 innings.
Over on the White Sox’ side, Friday starting pitcher Lucas Giolito went 5.2 innings in a no-decision, posting four hits, three earned, four walks and seven strikeouts. Eloy Jimenez slapped a three-run homer and had two of the three Chicago hits on the evening.
In the Saturday starting pitcher job, Chicago is going with Reynaldo Lopez. Over four starts and an 0-2 record this season, Lopez has an 8.38 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 9.2 innings. On his MLB career, Lopez is 25-33 with a 4.75 ERA and 402 Ks in 474.0 innings of work.
The Tigers are 9-20 in their last 29 Saturday games and 20-48 in their last 68 road games. Detroit is 49-118 in their last 167 overall and 40-108 in their last 148 games as an underdog.
Meanwhile, the White Sox are 10-1 in the last 11 home games and 20-6 in their last 26 versus a team with a losing record. Chicago is 20-7 in their last 27 overall and 19-7 in their last 26 games after a win.
Pick: I think I’m leaning toward the White Sox here. When Fulmer is on, he’s a very potent pitcher and has a nice combination of pitches at his disposal. Trouble is, Fulmer has been searching for that breaking pitch he needs in his arsenal—the slider just isn’t hitting its spots this year. That’s caused Fulmer’s ERA to balloon, and he hasn’t quite come back from Tommy John surgery yet. I would think he’ll continue to improve here, but it’s probably Chicago’s game to lose.
