Tigers at White Sox
The Detroit Tigers will undoubtedly miss Miguel Cabrera at some point in the near future, but the club's knack for pulling off the late rally since his season-ending injury has the team feeling good about itself at the moment. The Tigers attempt to remain unbeaten without their 11-time All-Star on Saturday when they visit the Chicago White Sox for the middle contest of a three-game series.
Detroit erupted for four runs in the eighth inning to defeat Minnesota 5-2 on Wednesday, tallied all three of its runs in the seventh Thursday to beat the Twins again and pulled out a 4-3 victory in Friday's series opener when John Hicks scored the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice grounder in the eighth. Victor Martinez contributed a two-run double and James McCann had three hits for the Tigers, who improved to 6-1 against their American League Central rival - including 4-0 at Guaranteed Rate Field. After finishing May at 16-37, Chicago is 8-7 in June despite dropping two in a row. However, the White Sox are in danger of losing the first series of the month after splitting both of their four-game sets while taking two of three from division leaders Milwaukee and Boston.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (2-0, 4.88 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (4-7, 7.09)
Zimmermann is expected to be activated Friday in time to make his first start since landing on the disabled list on May 5 due to a right shoulder impingement. The two-time All-Star did not yield a run across 12 innings over his last two big-league outings and is coming off the best of his three turns during his rehab stint, allowing one run in 5 1/3 frames with Single-A Western Michigan on Monday. Zimmermann gave up six runs over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision April 5 at Chicago.
Giolito walked more batters (four) than he struck out (three) for the seventh time in 13 starts Monday against Cleveland, taking the loss after surrendering four runs on four hits across five innings. The 23-year-old ranks third in the majors in walks (43) and has been abysmal in six home turns this season, going 1-4 with an 11.63 ERA while allowing opponents to bat .303 in those outings. Giolito was tagged for five runs in 5 2/3 frames in a loss to Detroit on April 7.
WALK-OFFS
1. Four of the last five meetings have been decided by one run.
2. Chicago is holding opponents to a .104 batting average with runners in scoring position over the last eight contests.
3. Hicks is 6-for-12 with a triple and a home run in three starts at first base since Cabrera ruptured his left biceps tendon Tuesday.