Barstool Bush
Predictions

Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox

By Bush StaffUpdated 83d ago·2 min read
Detroit TigersDET(22-37)
Chicago White SoxCWS(31-27)
1—2
FINAL
123456789RHE
DET
100000000140
CWS
00000020—260

First pitch is 1:10 PM CT on the South Side, with Keider Montero (2-3, 4.09) trying to keep the Tigers off the wrong end of a sweep against Sean Burke (2-3, 3.90). Burke is coming off a 7-inning, 8-K, 2-run gem against the Twins on Monday. Montero went 5.2 and gave up 4 earned in a no-decision in that same Angels series Detroit just got smoked in.

Detroit Tigers
Keider Montero
(3-4)·3.61 ERA
May 26 vs Angels
ND
5.2IP
4ER
7K
1BB
89P
05/31 Lineup
Chicago White Sox
Sean Burke
(3-4)·4.15 ERA
May 26 vs Twins
ND
7.0IP
2ER
8K
2BB
100P
05/31 Lineup

The vibes around this series could not be more different. Chicago has won 4 in a row, including a 15-2 demolition of Minnesota and back-to-back wins over Detroit by a combined 11-4. The Tigers, meanwhile, have dropped 4 of 5 and have looked completely out of sorts at the plate — 1 run on Saturday, 1 run last Wednesday, 3 in Friday's extra-inning loss when the bullpen cracked late.

Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
(22-37)
May 30L@ White Sox1-7
May 29L@ White Sox3-4
May 28Lvs Angels1-7
May 27Wvs Angels4-0
May 26Lvs Angels6-10
Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
(31-27)
May 30Wvs Tigers7-1
May 29Wvs Tigers4-3
May 28Wvs Twins6-2
May 27Wvs Twins15-2
May 26Lvs Twins3-5

The injury list is the elephant in the room and it's the size of a Buick. Detroit is running this thing without Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, Justin Verlander, Jackson Jobe, Reese Olson and Ty Madden in the rotation, plus Kenley Jansen at the back end of the pen and Javier Baez, Gleyber Torres, Kerry Carpenter and Parker Meadows out of the lineup. That is essentially the entire spine of the roster on the shelf. Chicago is missing pieces too — Munetaka Murakami just landed on the IL with a Grade 2 hamstring strain (4-6 weeks) and Kyle Teel is still working back — but the Sox are deeper than they have any business being.

Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
(16)
  • Day-To-DayDugan Darnell (RP) — The Tigers announced Sunday that Darnell (hip) has been playing catch five times a week and is also taking part in a running progression, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.05/08
  • 10-Day-ILGleyber Torres (2B) — Torres (oblique) will travel to Triple-A Toledo on Friday to begin a rehab assignment, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.05/28
  • 10-Day-ILKerry Carpenter (RF) — Carpenter (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.05/28
  • 10-Day-ILJavier Baez (SS) — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Baez is scheduled to meet with a specialist in the near future for further evaluation on his sprained right ankle, which hasn't healed as quickly as the team hoped, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.05/26
  • 15-Day-ILCasey Mize (SP) — Mize (groin) played catch Thursday and is still waiting on the results of his MRI, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.05/29
  • 15-Day-ILKenley Jansen (RP) — Jansen is awaiting results of an MRI on his right groin, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.05/28
  • 15-Day-ILTarik Skubal (SP) — Skubal (elbow) will throw another simulated game Monday at Tropicana Field, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.05/28
  • 15-Day-ILTy Madden (SP) — Madden (forearm) covered 4.1 innings and allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks while striking out three batters Monday in a rehab start with Triple-A Toledo.05/27
  • 15-Day-ILBurch Smith (RP) — Smith has been diagnosed with right shoulder soreness and received a cortisone injection Friday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.05/22
  • 60-Day-ILBrant Hurter (RP) — The Tigers placed Hurter on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to lumbar spine inflammation.05/29
  • 60-Day-ILJustin Verlander (SP) — Verlander (hip) is slated to throw around 4-to-5 simulated innings or 65-to-70 pitches Wednesday in a live batting practice session, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.05/27
  • 60-Day-ILBailey Horn (RP) — Horn (elbow) began a throwing progression May 14, MLB.com reports.05/27
  • 60-Day-ILJackson Jobe (SP) — Jobe (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.05/20
  • 60-Day-ILTrey Sweeney (SS) — The Tigers transferred Sweeney (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILReese Olson (SP) — The Tigers placed Olson on the 60-day injured list Tuesday after he underwent a right shoulder labral repair Feb. 2 that will result in him missing the 2026 season.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILParker Meadows (CF) — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Meadows underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a left radius fracture and will be sidelined "multiple months," Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.05/08
Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
(16)
  • Day-To-DayDerek Hill (RF) — Hill has been removed from Saturday's starting lineup versus Detroit due to upper-back tightness, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.05/30
  • Day-To-DayMason Adams (RP) — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.05/08
  • 10-Day-ILMunetaka Murakami (1B) — Murakami has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain and is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.05/30
  • 10-Day-ILAustin Hays (LF) — Hays (calf) will play in at least two more rehab games with Triple-A Charlotte before he is evaluated for a potential return, MLB.com reports.05/26
  • 10-Day-ILEverson Pereira (RF) — Pereira (pectoral) resumed throwing Monday, MLB.com reports.05/26
  • 15-Day-ILNoah Schultz (SP) — Schultz (2-4) took the loss against the Giants on Sunday, allowing six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one batter across four innings.05/26
  • 15-Day-ILJordan Hicks (RP) — Hicks was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right lat strain.05/23
  • OutTim Elko (1B) — Elko (knee) agreed to a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Sunday, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILJordan Leasure (RP) — Leasure (forearm) said Friday that he will be shut down from throwing for four weeks, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.05/30
  • 60-Day-ILKyle Teel (C) — Teel (knee) will begin a running program Saturday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.05/29
  • 60-Day-ILKy Bush (SP) — Bush (elbow) had a setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery and is unlikely to return until the second half of the season, MLB.com reports.05/26
  • 60-Day-ILDrew Thorpe (SP) — Thorpe (elbow) recently underwent an appendectomy but has resumed throwing, MLB.com reports.05/26
  • 60-Day-ILPrelander Berroa (RP) — Berroa is dealing with right elbow inflammation and will have his rehab stint paused, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.05/17
  • 60-Day-ILMike Vasil (RP) — The White Sox transferred Vasil (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILTanner Murray (LF) — The White Sox transferred Murray (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Monday.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILBrooks Baldwin (LF) — The White Sox transferred Baldwin (elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08

The market has noticed. Chicago is the home favorite at -127 with the run line sitting at -1.5 (+165), and the total parked at 7.5. That's a number that says "Montero might be fine, but who's bailing him out if he isn't?" The Tigers bullpen blew Friday's game in the 9th and the cavalry isn't walking through that door this afternoon.

Colt Keith has been talking publicly about his power slump, A.J. Hinch is mixing and matching out of necessity, and at some point you have to wonder how long Detroit can tread water until Skubal and company get back. For one more day, though, it's Montero vs Burke in a getaway game the Tigers desperately need just to stop the bleeding.

Sources

MLBDetroit TigersChicago White SoxPolymarketKalshiKeider MonteroSean Burke