Chicago @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2011 ) Chi. White Sox 8, Detroit 9

THE STORY: The Detroit Tigers can win when Justin Verlander doesn’t start. They just need some heroics from the offense. The Tigers clinched a series win Saturday when they overcame a seven-run deficit against the Chicago White Sox, taking the lead only when Miguel Cabrera hit a walk-off solo homer. The White Sox’s bullpen breakdown pushed them 7 ½ games out in the American League Central, giving their hopes of contention a big hit. Detroit will be looking to knock visiting Chicago farther back when they hand the ball to Max Scherzer in search of a series sweep in the finale at Comerica Park on Sunday afternoon.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Max Scherzer (13-8, 4.52 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Mark Buehrle (11-6, 3.05 ERA).

The Tigers are never quite sure which Scherzer is going to show up. Sometimes they get the pitcher who dominates through seven or eight innings. Other times they get the one that gets lit up for seven runs in three innings, like Scherzer did on Monday against the Kansas City Royals. Scherzer tossed eight scoreless innings to earn a win over the White Sox in April but has taken the loss in two more recent meetings with them despite allowing a total of four runs in 14 innings.

A free agent at the end of the season, Buehrle has quietly been earning himself a pile of money lately. The veteran lefthander is 5-1 with a 2.25 ERA since the All-Star break and is coming off 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a win over Minnesota on Monday. Buehrle scattered 10 hits and a pair of unearned runs over six innings to beat Detroit on July 25 and owns an 18-9 record with a 3.13 ERA in 33 career games against the Tigers.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (77-62): What had been another disappointing start from Brad Penny and a suddenly tightening race turned into joy Saturday, as Detroit stormed back from an 8-1 deficit to earn a 9-8 triumph. After Penny put himself firmly on the bottom of the Tigers’ pile of starters by allowing eight runs – four earned – in five innings, David Pauley worked three scoreless frames to let the offense creep back into the game. They finally closed the gap completely when Ryan Raburn took Sergio Santos deep for a tying two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth. Cabrera followed one out later with his shot. The victory ensured that the Tigers would go into their upcoming series in Cleveland with no chance of falling out of first. Austin Jackson tripled twice among four hits Saturday and is batting .684 (13-for-19) with seven extra-base hits and nine runs scored over the last four games.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (68-68): Chicago has missed two opportunities to gain ground on the Tigers over the last two days, falling to Verlander on Friday and watching the bullpen implode Saturday. Back at .500 with 26 games left, it is looking like the White Sox might be done. Starting pitching is supposed to be the strength of the team, but Jake Peavy, John Danks and Gavin Floyd have combined to allow 18 runs in 14 2/3 innings over the last three games. Not surprisingly, the White Sox have dropped three straight.

FINAL PITCH: Chicago is dealing with plenty of internal turmoil as well. A story broke on Saturday that general manager Kenny Williams and hitting coach Greg Walker got into a pregame shouting match in the tunnel between the dugout and clubhouse stemming from comments Williams had made to the press about the struggles of Gordon Beckham.