The Tigers Again. No Problem. – Lineups and Game Preview 9/20

Now it seems the name of the game is “don’t watch them celebrate.” The Tigers currently have a magic number of 4 to clinch the American League Central. The series at Comerica against the White Sox is only a 3 game series so even in the event of a sweep Cleveland will have to help out by dropping a game. Rather than sitting back and hoping the Indians take hold of their destiny the White Sox could go ahead and win a game, postponing the inevitable a bit. Or maybe they want to sit sullenly in the dugout while the Tigers jump around spraying champagne everywhere and wishing they had a swimming pool.

Max Scherzer was sitting on 19 wins the last time he faced the Sox. In fact he’s been sitting on 19 wins since August. The luck fairy stops putting money under your pillow when it (he? she? Luck fairies?) realizes you’ve been hip to the game all along and just continued to take advantage for your own personal gain. That may or may not be why Scherzer has been unable to hit that 20 games won total, but he’s been a sport about not getting sour about it, even coming off as chipper as long as the team won. Good guy, that Scherz.

If you arbitrarily choose 50 innings pitched as your floor, nothing to do with the fact that he has exactly that, Andre Rienzo is tied with John Danks for team lead in homeruns allowed per 9. That’s the bad news. The good news (?) is that he’s been scratched from tonight’s game due to a finger issue, and won’t have to face Detroit’s violent lineup. Instead Dylan Axelrod, next in line for the team wrong side of the HR title will make the short notice start. It only seems like Axelrod has given up more bombs because he made a habit for a stretch of giving one up immediately upon entering a game. He makes up for it in other ways, though. Like a higher hit rate, lower K rate, and worse ERA.

The White Sox have scored 19 runs in their last 3 games! A dozen of those may have occurred in one game, but that’s quite alright, it’s always nice to be reminded that they’re alive.

Today’s Lineup:

1. De Aza – CF
2. Ramirez – SS
3. Gillaspie – 3B
4. Konerko – 1B
5. Dunn – DH
6. Avisail Garcia – CF
7. Danks – CF
8. Beckham – 2B
9. Phegley – C

Detroit Tigers Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson – CF
2. Torii Hunter – RF
3. Miguel Cabrera – 3B
4. Prince Fielder – 1B
5. Victor Martinez – DH
6. Andy Dirks – LF
7. Omar Infante – 2B
8. Alex Avila – C
9. Ramon Santiago – SS

Where to Watch
Today’s game will be broadcast on WCIU and Fox Sports Detroit. 6:08 Central start time.