Game 2: Saturday, September 26th, 7:05 PM ET
Nate Robertson, LHP (2-2, 5.13) Vs. Freddy Garcia, RHP (2-3, 4.01)
Tigers: The odd man out of the Tigers rotation at the end of Spring Training is a starter again just in time to provide Detroit with a left-handed boost. While his five innings with two runs allowed Sunday at Minnesota don't sound like a major accomplishment, the outing met the challenge of holding down the Twins offense long enough for the Tigers to pull ahead and salvage a game in a key series. His slider is back to resembling its old bite, and his control has rounded back into shape.
White Sox: Make it six straight quality starts for the right-hander, who held the Royals to two runs on five hits over eight innings on Sunday. Garcia also struck out three and walked one, needing just 94 pitches to complete the eight. Unfortunately for Garcia, the offense could not support him during a 2-1 setback, his seventh straight loss to Kansas City. Garcia, who pitched for the Tigers last year, has a 15-5 career record against Detroit with a 3.63 ERA.
Game 3: Sunday, September 27th, 2:05 PM ET.
Edwin Jackson, RHP (13-7, 3.25) Vs. Daniel Hudson, RHP (0-1, 3.38)
Tigers: If Jackson was tipping his slider, as pitching coach Rick Knapp suggested, he doesn't seem to be doing it anymore. Combine his strikeout pitch with a fastball that hit 98 mph last time out, and he has his early-season power arsenal back to throw at hitters for the stretch run and into the postseason. It's bad news for the White Sox, who beat Jackson during the Tigers' last trip to Chicago in June before giving him a no-decision in an extra-inning game in July at Comerica Park.
White Sox: Hudson pitched admirably in his first Major League start, but he did not receive any run support in a 7-0 loss against the Twins on Monday at U.S. Cellular Field. He made it through five innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks. The loss marked Hudson's first at any level since June 15, when he pitched for Class A Winston Salem -- a span of 14 starts. Hudson, who has only made four big league appearances overall, has never faced the Tigers.
