White Sox at Tigers
Offensive explosions have been too few and far between recently for the Chicago White Sox, who dropped 16 of their first 20 games following the All-Star break due in part to a lack of production at the plate. Coming off a rare series win and their best offensive showing in nearly two months, the White Sox look to continue a strong start to a seven-game road trip Monday when they visit the Detroit Tigers for the opener of a four-game set.
Chicago entered Sunday's rubber match in Philadelphia with a majors-worst 61 runs scored since the break and had been held to two runs or fewer in eight of its previous 11 contests - batting .202 with runners in scoring position over that span. The dam finally broke in a 10-5 victory over the Phillies, as the White Sox got a grand slam from Leury Garcia, a three-run shot by Eloy Jimenez and finished 5-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Detroit returns home after completing a 2-8 road trip and has been in freefall for over two months, going 14-55 since May 13. The Tigers outhit Texas 10-8 on Sunday but committed three errors and went 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position in a 9-4 loss to fall to 4-18 since the Midsummer Classic.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (11-5, 3.39 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Spencer Turnbull (3-9, 3.65)
Giolito rebounded from his worst start of the season, but remained winless since June 30 despite permitting one run and striking out nine over seven innings against the New York Mets last Wednesday. The first-time All-Star has been strong on the road (6-2, 2.76 ERA), although he is coming off a month in which he went 0-3 with a 5.65 ERA in five turns. Jeimer Candelario (4-for-11, three walks) has experienced some success versus Giolito, who is 3-2 with a 5.01 ERA in six career starts against Detroit.
Turnbull is expected to throw no more than 70 pitches in his first action on a big-league mound in over two weeks after going on the injured list with an upper back strain. The 26-year-old, who took the loss at Cleveland on July 17 despite allowing three runs in six frames, fired 3 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out seven in his lone rehab outing on Tuesday for Triple-A Toledo. Turnbull has yet to record a win in 10 career home starts but is holding right-handed hitters to a .217 average for the season.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox 1B Jose Abreu finished 1-for-5 with three strikeouts on Sunday to remain tied with Ozzie Guillen for 16th place in team history with 565 RBIs.
2. Since winning nine of its first 16 home games, Detroit has dropped 29 of 33 at Comerica Park.
3. Chicago 2B Yolmer Sanchez, who is 8-for-20 against Detroit this season, singled twice Sunday to reach 500 hits for his career.