First pitch is 1:10 PM CT on the South Side, with Keider Montero (2-3, 4.09) trying to keep the Tigers off the wrong end of a sweep against Sean Burke (2-3, 3.90). Burke is coming off a 7-inning, 8-K, 2-run gem against the Twins on Monday. Montero went 5.2 and gave up 4 earned in a no-decision in that same Angels series Detroit just got smoked in.
The vibes around this series could not be more different. Chicago has won 4 in a row, including a 15-2 demolition of Minnesota and back-to-back wins over Detroit by a combined 11-4. The Tigers, meanwhile, have dropped 4 of 5 and have looked completely out of sorts at the plate — 1 run on Saturday, 1 run last Wednesday, 3 in Friday's extra-inning loss when the bullpen cracked late.
The injury list is the elephant in the room and it's the size of a Buick. Detroit is running this thing without Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, Justin Verlander, Jackson Jobe, Reese Olson and Ty Madden in the rotation, plus Kenley Jansen at the back end of the pen and Javier Baez, Gleyber Torres, Kerry Carpenter and Parker Meadows out of the lineup. That is essentially the entire spine of the roster on the shelf. Chicago is missing pieces too — Munetaka Murakami just landed on the IL with a Grade 2 hamstring strain (4-6 weeks) and Kyle Teel is still working back — but the Sox are deeper than they have any business being.
- Day-To-DayDugan Darnell RP — The Tigers announced Sunday that Darnell (hip) has been playing catch five times a week and is also taking part in a running progression, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
- 10-Day-ILGleyber Torres 2B — Torres (oblique) will travel to Triple-A Toledo on Friday to begin a rehab assignment, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILKerry Carpenter RF — Carpenter (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJavier Baez SS — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Baez is scheduled to meet with a specialist in the near future for further evaluation on his sprained right ankle, which hasn't healed as quickly as the team hoped, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILCasey Mize SP — Mize (groin) played catch Thursday and is still waiting on the results of his MRI, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
- 15-Day-ILKenley Jansen RP — Jansen is awaiting results of an MRI on his right groin, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
- 15-Day-ILTarik Skubal SP — Skubal (elbow) will throw another simulated game Monday at Tropicana Field, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILTy Madden SP — Madden (forearm) covered 4.1 innings and allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks while striking out three batters Monday in a rehab start with Triple-A Toledo.
- Day-To-DayDerek Hill RF — Hill has been removed from Saturday's starting lineup versus Detroit due to upper-back tightness, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- Day-To-DayMason Adams RP — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILMunetaka Murakami 1B — Murakami has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain and is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILAustin Hays LF — Hays (calf) will play in at least two more rehab games with Triple-A Charlotte before he is evaluated for a potential return, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILEverson Pereira RF — Pereira (pectoral) resumed throwing Monday, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILNoah Schultz SP — Schultz (2-4) took the loss against the Giants on Sunday, allowing six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one batter across four innings.
- 15-Day-ILJordan Hicks RP — Hicks was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right lat strain.
- 60-Day-ILJordan Leasure RP — Leasure (forearm) said Friday that he will be shut down from throwing for four weeks, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
The market has noticed. Chicago is the home favorite at -127 with the run line sitting at -1.5 (+165), and the total parked at 7.5. That's a number that says "Montero might be fine, but who's bailing him out if he isn't?" The Tigers bullpen blew Friday's game in the 9th and the cavalry isn't walking through that door this afternoon.
Colt Keith has been talking publicly about his power slump, A.J. Hinch is mixing and matching out of necessity, and at some point you have to wonder how long Detroit can tread water until Skubal and company get back. For one more day, though, it's Montero vs Burke in a getaway game the Tigers desperately need just to stop the bleeding.