Chicago’s Paul Konerko (33 HR, 98 RBI) has missed the first two games of this series.
The
Chicago White Sox entered this four-game series against the
Detroit Tigers riding a six-game winning streak, with each victory occurring on the road. The Pale Hose extended that streak Monday in the first game of the series by edging the Tigers in 10 innings as 110 road underdogs, 5-4. However, the streak was snapped in a big way Tuesday when the White Sox were spanked as 140 road underdogs, 9-1.
The combined 10 runs skipped ‘over' the 8½-run closing total, leaving the ‘over' 10-4 in the last 14 series meetings
The loss left the White Sox 4 ½-games behind the Minnesota Twins in the race for the AL Central crown and dropped Chicago's road record to 39-34. The White Sox are now 7-4 in the last 11 series meetings against the Tigers, including 5-2 in the last seven matchups at Detroit's Comerica Park.
The White Sox captured Monday's opener despite playing without Paul Konerko, who leads the team in batting average (.318), home runs (33) and runs batted in (98). The right-handed slugger is listed on the injury report as day-to-day with a sore back.
Detroit's home record is a very respectable 44-26, but the club is still 13 games behind the first-place Twins in the AL Central.
The Tigers still rank among the league leaders in hitting, but they lead the American League with 1,064 stranded runners. The other numbers are not so bad. They are sixth in batting average (.269), fourth in hits (1,288) and fourth in home runs (126). However, they rank just eighth in runs scored with 623.
John Danks (13-9, 3.56 ERA) will take the mound for the White Sox in Wednesday's third game of the series. The 25-year-old southpaw has faced the Tigers once this season (June 10) and registered a 3-0 victory as a 125 road favorite.
Danks blanked the Tigers on one hit through seven innings spanning 111 pitches. He walked four and fanned four.
Though Danks owns a 13-9 record, the White Sox are just 14-13 in his 27 starts. The ‘under' is also 14-13. He is 6-3 with a 3.81 ERA in 13 road assignments, compared to 7-6 with a 3.34 ERA in 14 home outings.
Danks is off last Saturday's 3-1 victory at Boston as a 150 underdog. He limited the Red Sox to one run on six hits through seven innings spanning 103 pitches while walking three and fanning five. He has now pitched into the seventh inning is seven of his last eight starts.
The Tigers will counter with Jeremy Bonderman, who is trying to improve his 7-9 record and lower his 5.25 ERA. Though Bonderman is two games below .500, the Tigers are 13-11 in his 24 starting assignments. The ‘over' is 14-9-1 during that span.
Bonderman is 1-1 in two starts against the White Sox this season. The 27-year-old right-hander registered a 7-1 victory on Aug.3 as a 115 home favorite, but then dropped an 8-4 decision 10 days later as a 135 road underdog.
Bonderman has allowed seven runs on 12 hits (two home runs) in 12 2/3 innings against White Sox hitters. He has walked two batters and fanned nine.
Brian Gorman is scheduled to be the home plate umpire for Wednesday's matchup. There has been an average of 9 ½ runs per game when the veteran arbiter has been behind the dish, resulting in the ‘over' going 15-12-1.
Don't forget to check the weather forecast for all of Wednesday's baseball action.