Chicago @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2011 ) Detroit 1, Chi. White Sox 2
THE STORY: Justin Verlander's outstanding season has some analysts whispering about a three-letter award usually reserved for position players. Verlander will look to further validate his MVP candidacy by registering a ninth straight win on Friday as the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers host the Chicago White Sox. Detroit, which has a 5 1/2 game lead over both Chicago and the Cleveland Indians, has won 13 of the last 18 meetings with the White Sox.
TV: 7:05 pm. ET, Fox Sports Detroit, Comcast SportsNet
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (20-5, 2.38 ERA) vs. White Sox LH John Danks (6-9, 3.63 ERA).
Verlander, who’s pitching on an extra day’s rest, seems like a shoo-in for the AL Cy Young Award. He is the first pitcher to reach 20 wins before Sept. 1 since Curt Schilling in 2002. Verlander is 8-0 with a 2.61 ERA since his last loss on July 15 to Chicago, which ended his seven-game winning streak over the White Sox.
Danks is also pitching well, having posted a 6-1 mark with a 2.03 ERA in his last 11 starts. The lefthander is coming off his second career shutout. He allowed just three hits and registered a career-high tying 10 strikeouts against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Danks is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts versus Detroit this season. Magglio Ordonez is 15-for-29 with two homers and seven RBIs against Danks.
ABOUT THE TIGERS (75-62): Detroit is in first place due largely to its dominance within the division. The Tigers are an AL Central-best 34-21 against divisional foes. The Tigers’ offense is hitting on all cylinders - they’ve scored 40 runs over the last eight games - and no one is hotter than Austin Jackson. The speedy leadoff hitter went 9-for-19 with a homer, two RBIs and six runs scored during a four-game series with the Kansas City Royals earlier this week. It is a welcome sight for Detroit, which hasn't received much production from the leadoff spot this season (.243). Ordonez is also starting to heat up. He’s hitting .384 (10-for-26) with a homer and five RBIs in his last six starts.
ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (68-66): Chicago’s postseason chances are in far better shape than they were just last month, when a six-game losing streak from July 31-Aug. 4 threatened to knock the White Sox out of contention. Ozzie Guillen’s team has responded by going 16-9 since then. Danks is relishing the chances to face Verlander on Friday. "You want to compete against the best. I don't want to sound too geeked up about it, but I love games like this,” he said. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is expected to return to the team Friday. He has been on the disabled list since Aug. 16 due to a broken wrist.
FINAL PITCH: Verlander is the first pitcher to win at least seven straight starts in one season since former Twins’ pitcher Frank Viola accomplished the feat in 1988.