On Friday night, the Chicago White Sox host its final series of the season against its division rival Detroit Tigers. The last time the White Sox and Tigers saw each other, we saw the benches clear after Jose Abreu slid hard into second base after getting drilled in the elbow with a 97 mph fastball.
Abreu slid into second base slightly late and Tigers’ shortstop Niko Goodrum took offense to it. The two got into a heated exchange before the benches eventually cleared. Abreu had to be held back by a field umpire and White Sox staff after being visibly upset after the exchange with Goodrum.
It was the 21st time this season that Abreu has been hit by a pitch. White Sox bench coach Miguel Cairo was the only ejection made that game. During the postgame presser, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that it wasn’t intentional, that the Tigers were following their game plan.
A few days after that game, news came out that Tim Anderson would be suspended three games for making contact with an umpire. Anderson is appealing the suspension. Multiple reporters have mentioned that the suspension would not apply to the postseason and would only be for regular-season games.
The Chicago White Sox needs to have a great series to close the regular season strong.
In 16 games against the Tigers this season, the White Sox are 10-6. Seven of those 16 games have been decided by two runs or less. Although the Tigers are not playoff contenders, the team plays tough against the White Sox.
The White Sox need to worry about finishing the season off strong and not retaliating against a team that isn’t playing for a postseason berth. The last thing the White Sox wants to do is have to face an incident where someone is injured and it forces them to miss the postseason.
With Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, and Dylan Cease scheduled to take the mound for the White Sox this series, expect them to lock in on shutting down the opposing batters and preparing themselves for the postseason in their final start of the season rather than retaliating by hitting an opposing batter.
The White Sox begin their final series of the regular season Friday night with Lance Lynn scheduled to take the mound against Willy Peralta.