White Sox at Tigers
Jose Abreu is on a tear for the Chicago White Sox, who will try to ride their hot-hitting first baseman to a series win when they play the rubber match of a three-game set at the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. Abreu homered, doubled twice and singled in four at-bats to power the White Sox to an 8-4 win in Saturday's meeting - his seventh multi-hit effort in the last nine games.
The veteran slugger has 12 extra-base hits and nine RBIs in those nine contests, and shortstop Tim Anderson has gotten into the act with three homers over the last two days. Tigers rookie Jeimer Candelario matched Anderson with a pair of long balls in Saturday's loss and he has four RBIs in two games since coming off the disabled list. Detroit may get two-time MVP Miguel Cabrera, out since May 4 with a hamstring injury, back for the series finale. The timing would be nice for the Tigers, as Cabrera is 27-for-71 with four homers in his career against James Shields, who gets the start Sunday for the White Sox.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH James Shields (1-4, 4.62 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Blaine Hardy (0-0, 3.46)
Shields has four quality starts in five turns this month and held Baltimore to two runs in seven innings his last time out. He has finished at least six frames in six consecutive outings, allowing 25 hits in 39 innings during that span. The 36-year-old, who despite his solid stretch hasn't picked up a win since March 29, is 9-8 with a 4.46 ERA in 26 career starts against Detroit.
Hardy has made four relief appearances and two starts with the Tigers, including five innings of two-run ball at Minnesota on Monday. He has issued only one walk in 9 2/3 frames over his last three outings. Matt Davidson has a home run and a double in three career at-bats against Hardy, who owns a 5.06 ERA in 18 career relief appearances against the White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. Davidson has missed four straight games with back tightness.
2. Abreu is hitting .343 with 16 home runs in 78 career games against Detroit.
3. Candelario reached base in each of his last 20 games.