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| 3:40 PM PT4:40 PM MT5:40 PM CT6:40 PM ET18:40 ET22:40 GMT6:40 3:40 PM MST5:40 PM EST6:10 PM VEN2:40 UAE (+1)4:40 PM CT, May 26, 2023 Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan Attendance: 21,701 |
Lance Lynn leads White Sox against Tigers
Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers
- Chicago has gone 45-21 against Detroit since the start of 2019, including 20-11 at Comerica Park, where the White Sox won eight of nine last season. The Tigers swept a three-game set to end last season, however, outscoring the White Sox 16-6 in Chicago.
- The White Sox have gone 14-9 since April 30 and have a 3.53 ERA in that span, including a 3.10 mark from their bullpen. The South Siders had gone 7-21 prior to that date, with a 5.88 ERA as a team and a 6.59 mark from the relievers.
- Since allowing seven earned runs on 12 hits over four innings on April 7 in Pittsburgh, Lucas Giolito has posted a 2.66 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over eight starts, including a win against Kansas City in his last outing in which he allowed just one run on six hits.
- Tim Anderson is slashing just .214/.258/.214 since returning from injury on May 2. He has a 13-game hitting streak against the Tigers dating back to June 12, 2021 and a .347 career average against Detroit, best among active players (min. 150 PA).
- The Tigers' bullpen has a 2.75 ERA this month, third in MLB behind the Padres (1.37) and White Sox (2.49). Detroit has a 3.69 ERA in the seventh inning or later this season -- ninth in MLB -- and the Tigers are 14-1 when leading after six innings.
- Riley Greene is hitting .373 this month, second in the AL behind Texas' Leody Taveras at .380 (min. 50 PA). Greene has 146 hits through 138 career games -- in the last three decades, the only Tigers to reach 150 hits in fewer than 140 games are Austin Jackson (119 games) and Juan Encarnacion (136 games).
Detroit opened a seven-game homestand with a 7-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.
The White Sox will look to even the series on Friday with veteran right-hander Lance Lynn on the mound.
Lynn (3-5, 6.28 ERA) has settled in during his last two starts after getting roughed up for a majority of his first eight outings this season. Lynn allowed three runs, one earned, while striking out seven in seven innings against Cleveland on May 16.
Lynn then held Kansas City to two runs and four hits while notching six strikeouts in six innings on Sunday.
"If we do what we're supposed to do, it puts the bullpen in a good spot -- and I've seen them really take off, too," Lynn said of the starting rotation. "And then when we're throwing the ball well, the defense is making plays and the offense is scoring. So, we just have to keep playing good baseball."
Lynn recorded victories in both of those outings.
"He keeps us in games, and he just knows how to navigate through a lineup three times," manager Pedro Grifol said.
Lynn is 7-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 11 career starts against Detroit.
Left-hander Joey Wentz (1-4, 7.45), who will oppose Lynn on Friday, hasn't gotten out of the third inning in his last two outings. He gave up three runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings against Seattle on May 14.
His next outing was even worse: He was charged with six runs on 10 hits in two-plus innings at Washington on Sunday.
With limited options to take Wentz out of the rotation, manager A.J. Hinch is sticking with him.
"We're just not going to be an organization that panics and reacts to every start as if it's their job on the line," Hinch said. "We're going to continue to nurture and do things better and push these guys. We will make decisions when we make decisions - not everybody can do this (struggle) forever. But our players will always feel a sense of support from the organization, from me, from (pitching coach Chris) Fetter. We're going to tirelessly work to find solutions and not use fear tactics to make him pitch better."
Starters Matt Manning, Tarik Skubal, Spencer Turnbull and Beau Brieske are on the injured list, so the Tigers are hopeful Wentz can at least bridge the gap until one or two of them are ready to return.
"Joey is really good," Hinch said. "He hasn't had great games the last few starts, but he's a really good pitcher. And we do need him, based on where we're at health-wise."
Alex Faedo delivered the best start of his young career on Thursday, piling up a career-high 10 strikeouts in six innings. Offensively, the Tigers had 10 hits and drew 11 walks. Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson both reached base four times and Akil Baddoo hit his second homer of the season.
"He's put together a run of at-bats that are very strong," Hinch said of Baddoo. "He's been very, very good about staying within his game plan and getting good pitches to hit."
--Field Level Media
Updated May 26, 2023
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