Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers Betting Preview
Friday night features an A.L. Central showdown as the Chicago White Sox (38-24) take on the Detroit Tigers (26-36). The Tigers will host this one at Comerica Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 pm ET.
The White Sox just finished a series win on Thursday as they took two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays. In Thursday’s 5-2 win, Yasmani Grandal and Adam Engel both homered while Dallas Keuchel picked up the win going six innings and allowing just two runs.
For the Tigers, they finished a series win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday by taking two of three. In Thursday’s contest, they won 8-3 behind an offense fueled by 11 hits and three home runs. Catcher Jake Rogers went two for four with a triple and a home run.
The White Sox are the favorites in this one despite playing on the road. They are -180 to win while the Tigers’ moneyline sits at +152. The runline features Detroit +1.5 (-110), and the over/under for total runs is 8.5.
Pitching Matchup
The Chicago White Sox will send ace Lucas Giolito (5-5, 3.88 ERA) to the mound Friday. Giolito’s last start was also against the Tigers, where he went seven innings and gave up four runs. The biggest issue for Giolito in that start was the long ball, as he gave up three of them to Detroit.
The Tigers will counter with lefty Tarik Skubal (3-7, 4.33 ERA). His last outing came against Chicago, where he picked up the win after giving up just one run in five innings while striking out 11.
By The Numbers
Offensively, the White Sox have been the far superior team this season. They rank fifth overall averaging 4.90 runs per game. The Tigers fall to 29th, averaging just 3.74 runs per game.
Defensively, it is once again the White Sox that hold a big advantage. They rank second in the majors allowing opponents just 3.49 runs per game. The Tigers rank 20th, allowing 4.70 runs per game.
White Sox Try To Continue Dominance Over Tigers
Great teams are expected to beat up on the weaker ones. In the case of the White Sox and Detroit, that is exactly what has happened thus far, and Chicago is hoping to continue the trend. Thus far this season, the White Sox are 5-2 against Detroit, including a 3-1 homestand last week.
Leading the way for the White Sox is reigning MVP, Jose Abreu. On the season, he leads the team in home runs (11) and runs batted in (48). He is also hitting .252/.335/.466 through 202 at-bats.
One player to keep an eye on Friday is shortstop Tim Anderson. Albeit in just four at-bats, but Anderson is hitting .750 with a home run and two runs batted in against Skubal in his career.
On the season, Anderson is hitting .297/.338/.431 with six home runs, 23 runs batted in, 35 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases.
Tigers Hope To Get Back To .500 At Home
While the Tigers trail the White Sox by 12 games in the division, they would love nothing more than to spoil the weekend for Chicago by winning the three-game series. A win on Friday would also get the Tigers back to .500 at home as they are currently 15-16 at Comerica Park.
Jonathan Schoop currently leads the team offensively. After homering in Thursday’s win, he now has a team-leading ten home runs to go along with 29 runs batted in and 24 runs scored. This season, he is hitting .266/.317/.446.
Eric Haase is a guy to keep an eye out for in this game. He has really turned some heads as he has hit eight home runs in just 78 at-bats this season. He has also had success against Giolito, going two for three with two home runs.
Miguel Cabrera also has two home runs in his career against Giolito, while Schoop and Niko Goodrum have taken the righty deep once each.
Taking Boston To Win
This is a pitching rematch of last Saturday’s game, in which the Tigers won 4-3. While the Tigers were able to take the first matchup, it is hard to imagine them getting the best of Lucas Giolito twice in a row.
Don’t expect the Tigers to hit three home runs off of the righty again, while it is also likely that the White Sox will be able to make some adjustments against Skubal.
Take the White Sox to win this one.
