Despite a disappointing month of July, the Tigers still possess first place in the AL Central. At 69-51, Detroit has its sights set on a World Series appearance. The opposite is true for the last place White Sox. Chicago owns the American League’s worst record at 43-76. Still, the South Siders have played better baseball in recent weeks. Can they carry that momentum over into an upset win tonight? Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Tuesday’s showdown between the Tigers and the White Sox.
The Tigers are favorites (-182) over the White Sox, with the over/under set at 8.5 runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook entering tonight’s contest.
Tigers vs. White Sox prediction, preview
For the Tigers, it’ll be Jack Flaherty toeing the slab. It’s been a shaky start to the righty’s second career stint in Detroit. Over 120.1 innings of work, he’s accounted for a 4.56 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. If there’s a bright side, the veteran has posted a career-best 11.0 K/9 ratio. Last week was a setback for the 29-year-old, who coughed up five earned runs in 4.2 innings against the Twins. However, in his last five outings, Flaherty has recorded a solid 4.07 ERA.
This appears to be an advantageous matchup tonight for Detroit’s starter. The White Sox are averaging 3.81 runs per game, the fourth-worst mark in baseball. However, this has been a different team over the past month. Since July 15th, Chicago has notched a respectable 12-12 record. During that time, several hitters have emerged for the South Siders. That includes Colson Montgomery, who has smashed ten homers in his first 32 career games. The rookie is slashing .241/.311/.565 at the plate so far. Still, Flaherty has allowed two runs over 11.2 innings against the White Sox this season (1.54 ERA).
As of Tuesday afternoon, Chicago’s starter is TBD; there’s a good chance this is a bullpen day. On the year, the White Sox have the tenth-best bullpen ERA. They’ll need to be at their best going into a matchup with this Detroit offense. This season, the Tigers are averaging the league’s eighth-most runs per game (4.81). Although the team has slipped up a bit at the plate recently, the roster still has several dangerous hitters. Seven different lineup regulars have recorded a wRC+ of 100 or greater, including All-Stars Riley Greene (124) and Gleyber Torres (122).
Tigers vs. White Sox pick, best bet
Best Bet: Tigers vs. White Sox under 8.5 runs (-109)
Despite their recent play, the White Sox have only gone 3-7 over their last ten games. However, the Tigers don’t offer much value on Tuesday at -182. Instead of picking either club, look towards the under. Flaherty has a track record of success against Chicago’s lineup. In comparison, the South Siders and their ‘pen should contain a Detroit offense that has out-played expectations all year. Expect a low-scoring battle at Rate Field tonight.
