Chicago Vs. Detroit 7-25-11
The Detroit Tigers have their largest division lead in the AL Central of the season - a modest two games. There isn't much more breathing room between themselves and third place.
The Tigers will try to continue their recent success in Chicago and create further distance between themselves and the third-place White Sox when the teams open a three-game series Monday night.
Chicago provided Detroit with some help by taking both games of a rain-shortened series at Cleveland over the weekend, giving the Tigers (54-47) a season-best two-game lead over the Indians. The White Sox (49-51) are 4 1/2 back.
Detroit, which just won three of four against Minnesota, dropped two of three at home to the White Sox coming out of the All-Star break, but took five of the first six meetings between the clubs this year.
The Tigers have won 14 of their last 18 games versus the White Sox, including seven of eight in Chicago.
Detroit has also won nine of 14 overall, including Sunday's 5-2 victory over the Twins. Victor Martinez had three hits for the Tigers, who scored at least five runs for the fifth time in six games.
"To win three out of four here, you got to be thrilled," manager Jim Leyland said. "They're not an easy team to beat."
Probable White Sox starter Mark Buehrle (7-5, 3.38 ERA) hasn't been easy for the Tigers to beat, going 17-9 with a 3.22 lifetime ERA versus Detroit.
He also hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his last 14 outings, and can become the first White Sox pitcher to surrender three runs or fewer in 15 consecutive starts since Eric King went 18 straight starts bridging the 1989 and 1990 seasons.
Despite his quality pitching, Buehrle had been 0-1 over his previous five starts before giving up two runs and five hits in seven innings of a 5-2 win over Kansas City last Monday.
The veteran left-hander will try to help the White Sox (49-51) carry their momentum home following a 5-3 road trip.
On Sunday, the White Sox capitalized on three Indians errors, parlaying them into three unearned runs.
"The ball is bouncing our way now," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Every time somebody makes a mistake, we take advantage of it."
Guillen's club is just 21-25 at home, however, including five losses in its last six games on Chicago's South Side.
The offense will take its chances against Detroit's Duane Below (0-0, 1.80), who is scheduled to make his second major-league start Monday. The left-hander had a respectable debut Wednesday, allowing three runs - one earned - in five-plus innings against Oakland. He didn't factor in the decision of the Tigers' 7-5 loss.
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