Chi. White Sox White Sox vs Detroit Tigers Picks and Predictions August 24th 2024

From Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, we have the Tigers and White Sox facing off in an AL Central matchup. The Tigers are the heavy money line favorite, with their odds sitting at -264 compared to the White Sox at +217. First pitch is at 7:10 PM ET, and NBCS is carrying this one on TV.

Detroit is 63-66 overall, while the White Sox are just 31-98. Ky Bush is starting for the White Sox, and he will face off against Tarik Skubal for the Tigers. The over/under line is currently at 7.5 runs.

Detroit vs. Chicago Key Information

Tarik Skubal gets the start for the Tigers today as he faces the White Sox on the road. He has made 25 starts this season and has a record of 14-4 with an ERA of 2.49. Skubal’s WHIP for the season is .93, and he has turned in 19 quality starts. Skubal is coming off a start in which he finished with a no-decision, going six innings and giving up one earned run on four hits. Before that outing, he had won two straight starts. Skubal’s ERA on the road is 3.0, compared to 2.28 at home.

Heading into today’s game, the Tigers are 23rd in the league in runs scored at 4.1 runs per game. They have been even worse in terms of on-base percentage, as they are just 22nd in the league in this category. As a team, the Tigers are batting just .231, which is 19th in the league. Detroit’s offense is also near the bottom of the league in terms of home runs and walks.

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Riley Greene is the Tigers’ top home run hitter this season, and he also leads the team with 54 RBIs. Greene is batting .263 for the season and has gone 4/17 in his past four games. Over his last six games, Colt Keith is hitting .400, and he is currently on a six-game hitting streak.

Ky Bush will be making his 4th start of the season for the White Sox, and he will be taking on the Tigers at home. Bush has taken the loss in each of his first two starts, and in his last outing, he went 6 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 4 hits and 3 walks. He has yet to give up a home run this season.

Chicago’s offense has been one of the worst in the league this season, as they are last in home runs and are averaging just 3.1 runs per game. The team’s on-base percentage of .277 is also the worst in the league, and they are near the bottom of the league in both slugging percentage and OPS. Luis Robert Jr. and Andrew Vaughn are tied for the team lead in homers, with Robert Jr. batting .222 and Vaughn hitting .241.

Robert Jr. has been on a tear of late, going 13/33 in his last eight games, with two homers and five RBIs. Paul DeJong and Martín Maldonado are both on five-game hitting streaks, while Tommy Pham has a three-game streak going.

Our lean for a money line pick in this Tigers vs. White Sox matchup is to take the White Sox to come out on top. We also have this as the 10th highest-scoring game of the day and are leaning towards taking the over. Chicago starter Ky Bush has the highest strikeout projection in the league today.

Tigers Aim to Extend Dominance Over White Sox with Skubal on the Mound

The Detroit Tigers are enjoying some real success after an exhilarating 5-2 triumph over the Chicago White Sox in the series opener on Friday night. While grip hitting certainly played a job in breaking a 2-2 tie, it was the Tigers’ protection that genuinely captured everyone’s attention, protecting the success with a threesome of spectacular plays in the 10th inning.

As the game remained in a precarious situation, Detroit’s outfielders Matt Vierling and Parker Meadows made critical catches on the warning track, forestalling potential extra-base hits that might have moved the force. Shortstop Ryan Kreidler capped off the protective showcase by plunging to one side to snag a sharp line drive, safeguarding the lead and earning nearer Jason Foley his save.

Reflecting on the game-saving plays, Vierling captured the team’s enthusiasm:

“We’re all fired up. When we make plays like that, it’s a momentum boost for us. It’s kind of a morale boost. Everybody gets pretty fired up.”

Vierling was a key contributor on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including the go-ahead, run-scoring single in the seventh inning that put Detroit ahead for good. His performance, combined with the Tigers’ airtight defense, has the team feeling confident as they head into Saturday’s matchup.

Skubal Leads Tigers’ Charge as Cy Young Candidate

The Tigers, now 6-1 against the White Sox this season, will look to left-hander Tarik Skubal to continue their dominance in the series. Skubal has been one of the American League’s most consistent pitchers this season, boasting a 14-4 record with a 2.49 ERA. He’s considered a strong contender for the AL Cy Young Award, and with good reason.

Skubal’s recent performances have been impressive, with the southpaw winning two of his last three starts. In his most recent outing, during the Little League Classic against the New York Yankees, Skubal delivered six strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits. While he didn’t factor into the decision, his effort laid the groundwork for the Tigers’ eventual 3-2 win in extra innings.

Reflecting on his performance, Skubal emphasized his ability to compete and deliver in key moments:

“I was able to compete and get outs when I needed to, so I think that’s what matters.”

Skubal’s track record against the White Sox is equally encouraging for the Tigers. He has a 6-2 record with a 4.11 ERA in nine career starts against Chicago, including a dominant Opening Day performance this season, where he threw six shutout innings in a 1-0 win.

White Sox Look to Bush for a Turnaround

The Chicago White Sox, meanwhile, are searching for answers after suffering their league-worst 98th defeat on Friday. Despite strong individual performances—such as Korey Lee’s 3-for-4 outing and Gavin Sheets’ continued hot streak—the team couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities, leaving the bases loaded in the first inning and falling short in crucial moments.

Rookie left-hander Ky Bush will take the mound for Chicago on Saturday, hoping to turn things around. Bush, who has a 0-2 record with a 3.68 ERA, has shown promise despite limited run support. In his most recent start against the Houston Astros, Bush delivered the first quality start of his career, allowing just one run on four hits over six innings. However, the White Sox were unable to provide the necessary offense, resulting in a 2-0 loss.

Bush expressed confidence in his pitch command after the game:

“I just felt I commanded all four pitches, really. I had something where I think they all had something to worry about. I was able to command it, and I think I did a pretty good job with it.”

Saturday’s game will mark Bush’s first start against an American League Central opponent, and the White Sox will be counting on him to keep the Tigers’ offense in check while they search for a way to generate more runs.

Tigers Navigate Injury Challenges

In addition to the energy on the field, the Tigers are also managing wounds that could impact their setup. Shortstop Javier Baez was placed on the 10-day harmed list before Friday’s game because of right hip and lumbar spine inflammation. Baez, a central participant for Detroit, is set to go through additional testing to decide the degree of the injury.

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Notwithstanding Baez’s absence, the Tigers demonstrated on Friday that they have the profundity and flexibility to contend, with players like Vierling moving forward when required.

As Detroit prepares for the second game of the series, they’ll be hoping to maintain their energy, both protectively and on the hill, with Skubal leading the charge. For the White Sox, the challenge will be to figure out how to break through against one of the league’s top pitchers and to avoid falling further behind in a troublesome season.