Detroit Tigers (30-25) @ Chicago White Sox (26-30)
U.S. Cellular Field
Monday June 8th, 2009 at 2:05 PM-
Armando Galarraga RHP (3-6 5.31 era) vs. Clayton Richard LHP (2-1 3.97 era)
Tigers: It's still unseen whether Galarraga has officially turned the corner on the 2009 season, but his last two starts have been encouraging. He went seven innings and gave up three earned runs in his start Wednesday, coming off a similar performance in his previous outing in Baltimore. He hasn't returned to the form of his rookie season, when he went 13-7 with a 3.73 ERA, but it's an improvement from the month of May, when Galarraga compiled five losses in six starts. For now, manager Jim Leyland will take that as improvement.
White Sox: Richard encountered his first rough outing in four starts on Wednesday in a 5-3 loss to the A's. He lasted 5 1/3 innings and surrendered five runs on seven hits -- including three solo home runs -- while striking out four and walking four. His ERA rose from 3.38 to 3.97. Richard had posted a 2.70 ERA in four starts since becoming the White Sox fifth starter on May 12. He appeared in relief on April 15 against the Tigers, allowing two hits and no runs in one-third of an inning.
Monday June 8th, 2009 at 8:11 PM-
Jeremy Bonderman RHP (0-0 0.00 era) vs. Jose Contreras RHP (0-5 8.19 era)
Tigers: Bonderman is making his first start since June 1, 2008 after spending more than a year on the disabled list following surgery to correct a blood clot. After four rehab starts, his velocity hasn't returned to where it was before his injury -- his fastball is topping out at 90 when it used to hit 95, so Bonderman said he expects to throw more changeups than ever before. Before the injury, Bonderman had a career 59-66 record and a 4.22 ERA in five-plus seasons with the Tigers, mostly as a starter. Manager Jim Leyland has said his role past Monday is still up in the air.
White Sox: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen announced that Contreras would make his return to the team's starting rotation in the second game of a split doubleheader on Monday against the Tigers. Contreras struggled early in the season and opted to be sent down to Triple-A Charlotte last month rather than head to the White Sox bullpen so he could hone his pitches and return to the starting rotation at a later date. Contreras last pitched for the White Sox on May 8 in a 6-0 loss to the Rangers. In that game, he threw 3 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and five runs (three earned). On the season, Contreras is 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA. Over the last month in Triple-A, however, Contreras went 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA in five starts. He struck out 27 batters while walking 16
Tuesday June 9th, 2009 at 8:11 PM-
Dontrelle Willis LHP (1-3 6.84 era) vs. Mark Buehrle LHP (6-2 2.91 era)
Tigers: Willis is coming off his worst start of the season, when he walked four batters and hit another in the third inning of Thursday's game against the Red Sox. He finished with an unusual line: 2 1/3 IP, 0 hits, 5 ER, 5 BB. But he said that control wasn't so much the problem, but rather that he was rattled by some questionable calls. That's notable because Willis spent the first part of the season on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder, and said Thursday was the first time all year he lost his composure.
White Sox: Buehrle may have taken his second loss in his last start, on Thursday against the A's, but it was also the second time this season that he lasted eight innings and just the second time he allowed more than three runs in a start. Buehrle has not faced the Tigers this season, but he has a 13-8 lifetime record against Detroit. Buehrle also holds a 70-40 career record with a 3.65 ERA at U.S. Cellular Field.
Wednesday June 10th, 2009 at 8:11 PM-
Justin Verlander RHP (6-2 3.26 era) vs. John Danks LHP (4-4 5.10 era)
Tigers: Manager Jim Leyland said after Verlander's Friday start that he is now at his best he's seen him during his three-year career with the Tigers, and it's hard to argue otherwise. The 26-year-old won AL pitcher of the month honors for May, and started off his June with eight innings of shutout ball against the Angels. That game marked the fourth time this year he has thrown seven or more innings of shutout ball. Verlander now has a 1.12 ERA in his last eight starts, and has officially turned the corner after a subpar 2008 and a slow start to 2009.
White Sox: Danks labored through 5 2/3 innings in his last start on Friday against the Indians, a 6-0 loss. He struck out four, walked two and allowed six hits, but three of those hits were home runs, including back-to-back dingers in the sixth inning, which knocked him from the game. Against the Tigers, Danks is 2-1 in six career starts with a 4.00 ERA. He has struck out 32 batters in those starts while walking seven.
Thursday June 11th, 2009 at 2:05 PM-
Edwin Jackson RHP (6-3 2.16 era) vs. Gavin Floyd RHP (4-5 5.35 era)
Tigers: Jackson pitched perhaps his best start of the year Saturday in Detroit, finishing the complete game while giving up only one run. Over his last two starts, he has thrown 17 innings and given up only one run as he continues to hold on to the second-best ERA in the American League, at 2.16. What's more, Jackson continues to eat up innings, throwing eight or more innings in three of his last four starts.
White Sox: Floyd continued his pitching brilliance of late, producing his fourth consecutive quality start in a 4-2 victory against the Indians. Floyd retired 12 straight batters between the second and sixth innings. He lasted 6 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned) while striking out seven and walking one. Over his last four games, Floyd owns a 1.82 ERA with 31 strikeouts. In the process he has lowered his ERA from 7.71 to 5.35. Floyd has experienced great success in his career against the Tigers. He is 5-0 with a 3.88 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 10 starts. The 10 starts mark the most against any single opponent for Floyd.
