The Detroit Tigers entered Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago White Sox still trying to recover from another late-inning loss, falling 4-3 in extra innings in the series opener on Friday night at Rate Field. Detroit received a strong start from Troy Melton, who delivered seven quality innings, and Will Vest preserved a 2-1 lead through the eighth inning. But the Tigers again failed to close out the game, extending a recent pattern of struggles in the final frames.
On Saturday afternoon, the Tigers and White Sox will meet again in the second game of the weekend set, with Detroit sending left-hander Framber Valdez to the mound. Valdez, 32, turned in one of his better outings of the season in his previous start, allowing just one run over six innings against the Baltimore Orioles. He gave up a solo home run and a single, walked two batters and struck out five, but did not receive a decision in a game his team lost. Valdez also faced Chicago twice last season while pitching for the Houston Astros, working five innings in each outing with mixed results.
Chicago will counter with left-hander Anthony Kay, who has been effective during the month of May and will try to help the White Sox secure the series. The 31-year-old has posted a 1.98 ERA over five appearances in May, covering 27 1/3 innings. However, his 4.27 FIP suggests his underlying numbers have been less dominant than his ERA indicates. During that span, Kay has allowed 22 hits, including three home runs, and nine walks while striking out 24 batters. He has also hit five batters and thrown one wild pitch.
Kay has not previously faced the Tigers in his major league career, giving Detroit a first look at the left-hander. The matchup features two teams from the American League Central trying to gain momentum, with Detroit looking to end its skid in close games and Chicago aiming to build on Friday’s comeback win.
The Tigers enter the contest with a 22-36 record, while the White Sox stand at 30-27. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET at Rate Field in Chicago. The game will be available on Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV and the Tigers Radio Network. Friday’s result left Detroit with another missed opportunity, and Saturday’s game offers a chance to respond before the series moves on.
