Today at 1:08 p.m. ET, the Chicago White Sox (72-85) and Detroit Tigers (87-70) play the rubber match of their three-game set live from Comerica Park in Detroit. The game can be live streamed here. Chicago fans can hear all the action on WSCR 670 while Detroit fans can do the same on 97.1 The Ticket.
Clinging to a one-game lead in the American League Central, Detroit looks to create some separation between themselves and the Kansas City Royals as the team eyes its fourth straight division crown. Chicago enters play out of playoff contention, but will look to play spoiler to its division foe.
The White Sox continue a road trip they are 4-4 on thus far and will have a big role in how the AL Central race plays out as the team hosts the Royals for a four-game set to close out the season starting Thursday. The Tigers are closing out the first series of a seven-game homestand to finish up the season and will then welcome the Minnesota Twins for four games starting Thursday.
Chicago picked up 2-0 shutout win in the series-opener on Monday while Detroit scored a 4-3 victory on Tuesday.
Chris Sale (12-4, 2.20 ERA) toes the rubber for White Sox while the Tigers counter with Justin Verlander, who is 14-12 with a 4.68 ERA this season.
Sale struggled against the Royals last week, allowing five earned runs, but he still comes into the game leading the AL in ERA.
"It shocks you when that happens," White Sox skipper Robin Ventura said of Sale's prior struggles per MLB.com. "It just shows he's human. He'll bounce back. It's just that tonight wasn't his night."
Sale will hope not to struggle Wednesday afternoon against a Tigers lineup that is flanked by first baseman Miguel Cabrera and designated hitter Victor Martinez.
Cabrera leads the AL with a career-high 51 doubles, is third with 105 RBI and 186 hits and ranks fourth with 98 runs and tied for fourth with 308 total bases.
Martinez, who also boasts 308 total bases, leads the MLB in OPS (.972), is second in the AL in batting average (.335), third in on-base percentage (.408) and slugging percentage (.564) and fifth with 183 hits. Second baseman Ian Kinsler has also been a spark for Detroit, ranking fifth in the AL with 97 runs.
Verlander, on the other hand, was fantastic in his last outing which also happened to be against Kansas City. Verlander threw 7.1 innings of one-run ball en route to earning his fourth win in his last six tries. With the season series tied at 9-9, the right-hander is hopeful to help his team clinch it tonight.
"We seem to play our best baseball when we need to, and this is obviously a need-to moment," Verlander told MLB.com. "That's why I love these guys."
Verlander will face a White Sox lineup that is flanked by AL Rookie of the Year candidate Jose Abreu. Abreu is third in the AL with 35 homers and 105 RBI and leads the MLB with a .582 slugging percentage.
The Tigers look to create space in their search for an AL Central crown while the White Sox look to play spoiler when these teams take the field this afternoon at Comerica Park in Detroit.
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