Detroit Tigers Previews

Game 100 Preview: Tigers at White Sox

Anibal Sanchez takes the mound for the Tigers in Chicago.

By Patrick OKennedy@Tigerdog_1 Jul 24, 2013, 9:46am EDT

Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox

Time/Place: 8:10 p.m., U.S. Cellular Field

SB Nation blog: South Side Sox

Media: Fox Sports Detroit, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Pitching Matchup: RHP Anibal Sanchez (7-7, 2.85 ERA) vs. LHP John Danks (2-7, 4.52 ERA)

Pitcher	GS	IP	K/9	BB/9	HR/9	WHIP	FIP	SIERA	fWAR
Sanchez	16	98.0	10.47	2.94	0.46	1.19	2.42	3.08	3.3
Danks	11	69.2	6.33	1.03	1.81	1.12	4.72	3.77	0.5

John Danks surrendered five runs on seven hits in seven innings last Friday in a loss to the Braves coming out of the All Star break. He struck out four, walked none and gave up two homers. Danks posted a 33/6 K/BB rate in 46 2/3 innings over his last seven starts, and had thrown three consecutive quality starts prior to Friday's game. The Tigers don't hit lefties as well as they hit right handed pitching. but they're still above the league average across the board against southpaws.

Anibal Sanchez pitched well in Friday's loss to the Royals, giving up one run on four hits in his six innings. He walked a season-high five batters but that one run in the first inning was his doom. Sanchez leads Tiger starters in ERA, FIP, and K/9, is second only to Scherzer in WAR, and leads all American League starting pitchers in Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP). The Tigers should be favored to win any game when Sanchez starts.

Outlook

Someone threw the White Sox's bus into reverse not very long into the season, and they're playing very uninspired baseball. The most interesting thing that south siders have to watch is which of their stars will be the next to get traded. Word has it that everyone is for Sale except Sale himself. Meanwhile, the Tigers keep rolling, mantaining a narrow lead over the Indians for the division lead with the most productive offense, best rotation in the division, and a bullpen that is steadying itself for the pennant drive. These are two teams headed in opposite directions, and they will play each other another dozen times after this series is over.

Prediction

Tigers give Sanchez just enough run support to pull out a win.