White Sox at Tigers
The Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers each had miserable starts coming out of the All-Star break, with the division rivals combining for six losing streaks of at least four games. Detroit seeks to post back-to-back home wins for the first time since the first week of April in the finale of four-game set versus Chicago on Wednesday afternoon.
Jordy Mercer homered and drove in three runs in his third straight two-hit game as the Tigers earned a split of Tuesday's doubleheader with a 10-6 victory -- only the team's fifth win in 35 games at home. Miguel Cabrera had three hits in the nightcap, including the 1,000th of his career at Comerica Park, to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Ryan Goins and Jose Abreu each have four RBIs during four-game hitting streaks after going 5-for-8 and 4-for-8, respectively, in the doubleheader for Chicago. Leury Garcia has reached base in 17 straight games after collecting four hits in the twin-bill for the White Sox, which had their three-game winning streak snapped with the Game 2 loss.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Iván Nova (6-9, 5.10 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Tyler Alexander (0-2, 4.50)
Nova is on a roll, sporting an 0.90 ERA over his last three starts after limiting Philadelphia to two runs (one earned) and five hits over five-plus innings in a no-decision on Friday. He won his previous two turns, holding Minnesota to one run and two hits over six innings after beating Miami with a complete-game gem in which he allowed one run on four hits. Gordon Beckham is 5-for-13 against Nova, who was rocked for six runs and 11 hits in Detroit on April 18.
Alexander lost his second straight start at Texas on Friday, giving up four runs and a season-high 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings after lasting 4 1/3 innings in his previous turn at Seattle, when he yielded four runs and eight hits. The 25-year-old rookie was impressive in his lone home start, but had to settle for a no-decision despite seven innings of one-run ball versus Toronto. Alexander tossed five innings of two-run ball at Chicago in his major league debut.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tigers C John Hicks has hit safely in four straight games and seven of eight.
2. Abreu is 20-for-49 in 11 games versus Detroit this season, hitting safely in the last 10.
3. The Tigers placed INF Jeimer Candelario on the 10-day injured list due to a left thumb sprain.