Chicago @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2012 ) Chi. White Sox 4, Detroit 7

,After being accused of underachieving this season, the Detroit Tigers appear ready to make their playoff push. The Tigers moved within two games of American League Central-leading Chicago after beating the White Sox 7-4 in Friday’s series opener. Detroit has won five straight games against the White Sox and eight of 12 in the season series. The White Sox fell to 3-16 over their last 19 games at Comerica Park, but they had plenty of missed opportunities on Friday. Chicago went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base while falling to 1-7 in its last eight road games. Detroit enters Saturday’s action having won 23 of its last 29 games at Comerica Park.

The Tigers promoted outfielder Avisail Garcia from Double-A Erie on Friday, and he’s expected to start in right field and bat seventh on Saturday. The 21-year-old Garcia batted .299 with 14 homers and 23 steals over 513 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A this season. The White Sox aren’t expected to promote many players when rosters expand Saturday, but they will purchase the contract of first baseman/designated hitter Dan Johnson from Triple-A Charlotte. The 33-year-old Johnson is hitting .265 with 28 home runs and 94 RBI at Triple-A.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSD (Detroit)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LHP Francisco Liriano (5-10, 5.06 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Max Scherzer (14-6, 4.13)

Liriano left his last start in the sixth inning with cramping in his left leg, but he’s expected to be ready for Saturday’s outing. The White Sox are 4-2 in Liriano’s six starts since his trade from Minnesota on July 28. He’s 5-6 with a 5.69 ERA in 21 career games (15 starts) against Detroit and 3-3 with a 6.13 ERA in 10 games (seven starts) at Comerica Park.

Scherzer was outstanding in August, going 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 44-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 32 innings. Scherzer has struck out at least eight batters in eight straight starts, including last Sunday when he gave up one run over seven innings against the Los Angeles Angels. A.J. Pierzynski is 10-for-26 (.385) with one home run in his career against Scherzer.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez is 7-for-11 with four RBIs in his last three games and is hitting .417 (15-for-36) with 10 RBIs in his last 11.

2. Tigers INF Omar Infante needs three more hits to reach 1,000 for his career.

3. White Sox 3B Kevin Youkilis is 1-for-25 at Comerica Park this season, including his time with the Red Sox.