The White Sox arrive in Detroit after a messy night on the South Side, and that sets up a Friday opener that looks far more dangerous for Chicago than it does for the Tigers.
In their series finale against the Reds, Davis Martin was tossed in the third inning after throwing at rookie Sal Stewart’s head - twice - and the game spiraled from there. Benches cleared, Stewart got hit, and Tyler Stephenson and Eugenio Suárez were also plunked. Chicago did make a push, climbing back from a 9-5 deficit by the sixth inning and adding three more runs, but Cincinnati still came away with the win.
Even with Erick Fedde and Trevor Richards covering two long relief stints, the White Sox managed to avoid completely emptying the bullpen. Still, manager Will Venable is choosing to open the Detroit series with a bullpen game, and that is a risky call in a weekend that matters for both sides. Sean Newcomb, who has made only one start this season, is lined up to start Friday evening.
Newcomb’s lone start went well enough - three hitless innings - but the Tigers should be looking to attack him from the jump. If Detroit can get to him early, Chicago will be without Fedde and Richards as backup options, which could force Venable to reshuffle the bullpen quickly just to get through the night.
The Tigers have plenty to play for, and they know it. They enter Friday in sole possession of the final AL Wild Card spot after Thursday’s results went their way: their win over the Guardians, the Reds’ win over the White Sox, the Phillies’ win over the Twins, and the Angels’ win over the Rangers.
They are also just one game under .500, and if they sweep Chicago, they could be sitting atop the AL Central by the end of Sunday.
The contrast in form is clear. The White Sox are 4-6 over their last 10 and come in off a demoralizing, fireworks-filled loss at home.
The Tigers are 7-3 and riding the high of their first series win against the Guardians this season. If there’s a time for Detroit to push the pace, it’s now.
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Rainey has not just been trying to get healthy, either. He has added a curveball to his mix, and he credits the Tigers' pitching staff, along with coach Doug Bochtler, for helping him sharpen his mechanics and get his velocity moving in the right direction. AJ Hinch has already voiced confidence in what Rainey can bring, which makes this a bullpen subplot worth following as Detroit looks for more stability and a little extra punch in the late innings. [Read more 🡒]