Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 9/18/2022

Time: 12:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI

Where to watch: NBC Sports Chicago, Bally Sports Detroit

DraftKings: White Sox -165, Tigers +140

FanDuel: NL

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: White Sox -165, Tigers +140

White Sox: 74-71

Tigers: 55-89

The Chicago White So are in need of a run in these final weeks if they want any chance to win the American League Central. But coming into Saturday, the White Sox are 2-3 in their last five and alternating wins and losses in that stretch.

 

The most recent was Friday, a walk-off loss to the Detroit Tigers to beging their three-game series in Detroit. Chicago appeared to get some momentum back on Thursday with an 8-2 win at Cleveland trying to close the gap between them and the Guardians.

 

But the White Sox were held to just six hits and got no run production until Jose Abreu had a two-out RBI in the top of the eighth. Other than that, Lucas Gioliito went just 4.2 innings and walked three, while Detroit starter Matt Manning allowed just three hits in seven innings of work.

 

"That was a pretty bad time to have one," White Sox closer Liam Hendriks said regarding an error he made late in the game. "If I make the right play there, Reyes is the third out and we're hitting again in the 11th."

 

"We can't be thinking about what Minnesota and Cleveland are doing unless we are playing them," interim manager Miguel Cairo said after the White Sox fell to four games behind the Guardians. "We can only focus on winning the game we are playing."

 

So we’re in this weird realm right now with the White Sox where they should be much better than they are. It’s a star-studded team that appears to likely fall well short of their expectations last year. The AL Central champs that led pretty much wire-to-wire a year ago aren’t even going to make the playoffs with the AL Central being as lackluster as it is.

 

Chicago opened at -150 favorites to win, and the line could change pending on how Saturdays’ result goes. The White Sox are 23-18 this season when a favorite of -150 or more, and despite the recent slump are 10-5 in September.

 

The problem has been the division play, with the White Sox just 32-30 against AL Central foes. Think of the last three years overall with the Sox, going 101-77. Take the 32-30 mark out and it’s a lot better of a mark than this year. The Guardians are good, the Twins were in first place at one point. Even though it’s a crowded division and it’s not as competitive – not to mention the winner is likely out in the ALDS – there’s still a matter of pride to be played.

 

The Tigers are a respectable 30-43 at home this year. For a rebuilding team, that could be a lot worse. Detroit just needs to get something going on the road before this young group can be taken seriously. Until then, even a walkoff win on Friday night won’t be enough.

Liking the White Sox here, who have been good on Sunday games this year (14-9). Whomever the starter is for Chicago should be able to get enough solid innings out and give the White Sox something to look forward to with a few weeks to go. White Sox win 6-4

White Sox are 67-43 as a road favorite of -110 or higher over the past three seasons.

White Sox are 88-58 when a favorite between -125 and -175 the past three years.

Tigers are 6-15 this season when playing on Sunday.

Tigers are 22-37 as an underdog between +125 and +175 this season.

White Sox:
Elvis Andrus (R) SS
Yoan Moncada (S) 3B
Jose Abreu (R) 1B
Eloy Jimenez (R) DH
Andrew Vaughn (R) RF
Yasmani Grandal (S) C
AJ Pollock (R) LF
Luis Robert (R) CF
Romy Gonzalez (R) 2B

Tigers:
Riley Greene (L) CF
Victor Reyes (S) RF
Harold Castro (L) 3B
Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
Kerry Carpenter (L) DH
Jonathan Schoop (R) 2B
Ryan Kreidler (R) SS
Tucker Barnhart (S) C
Akil Baddoo (L) LF

Batting average: Jose Abreu -- .312

Home runs: Andrew Vaughn -- 16

RBI: Jose Abreu -- 71

Wins: Dylan Cease -- 14

ERA: Dylan Cease -- 2.14

Batting average: Javier Baez -- .238

Home runs: Two tied -- 13

RBI: Javier Baez -- 56

Wins: Tarik Skubal -- 7

ERA: N/A