Tigers at White Sox
The frosty conditions on their season-opening homestand are not agreeing with the Chicago White Sox, who will try to avoid a three-game sweep against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon. The White Sox squandered a four-run lead in a 10-inning loss in Thursday's home opener and saw their pitching staff unravel in 32-degree temperatures in Saturday's 6-1 setback.
Chicago has dropped four of five since opening the season with back-to-back wins in Kansas City, and Saturday's loss was especially tough to watch. White Sox pitchers combined to walk eight batters and hit four - three by starter Lucas Giolito - and the offense failed to produce a homer in one of the season's first two home games for the first time since 1992. Miguel Cabrera is tormenting Chicago whether he's in or out of the lineup, collecting three RBIs in a 6-1 victory to give him 107 in 174 games against the White Sox. Cabrera had to exit Thursday's game with a jammed hip and his replacement, Niko Goodrum, belted a two-run homer in the ninth to ignite the tying rally.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit-Plus, NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Mike Fiers (2017: 8-10, 5.22 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (0-0, 1.50)
Fiers started the season on the disabled list due to a back strain and will try to erase the memory of a rocky second half with Houston last year. The 32-year-old veteran lost six of his last seven decisions in 2017 and was hammered in his last three starts for 22 runs and 25 hits over only 12 innings. Fiers has a strong track record against Chicago with a 1-0 mark and 0.92 ERA in three career starts.
Lopez deserved a better fate at Toronto on Monday, but he was forced to settle for a no-decision despite allowing a solo homer among two hits while striking out six in six innings. The hard-throwing Dominican earned the victory in his lone start versus the Tigers in Detroit last season, giving up four runs on seven hits over seven innings. James McCann has a double and triple off Lopez in three at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox 2B Yoan Moncada had two hits Saturday after going 1-for-13 with eight strikeouts in his previous three games.
2. Tigers 2B Dixon Machado is 4-for-10 with three doubles three RBIs in the series, giving him six doubles and seven RBIs on the year.
3. Chicago RHP Juan Minaya was sent to Triple-A Charlotte after walking four batters and failing to retire one.