Barstool Bush
Predictions

Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers

By Bush StaffUpdated 66d ago·2 min read
Chicago White SoxCWS(38-33)
Detroit TigersDET(30-43)
1—4
FINAL
123456789RHE
CWS
100000000141
DET
00001210—471

Saturday's 1:10 PM ET first pitch is the bridge between Tarik Skubal's Friday start and Justin Verlander's Sunday return from the 60-day IL, which means the middle of this series is the soft underbelly. Detroit had Troy Melton penciled in to take the ball this weekend but he was scratched Monday vs. Houston with lower-back tightness, and Jack Flaherty just hit the 15-day IL with a peroneal strain. Whoever the Tigers run out there is pitching on borrowed time in a banged-up rotation.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
White Sox(38-33)
LWLWP
1
Tigers(30-43)
LWPLL
4
Best BetWhite Sox +104
Pregame

The Sox are over .500, the Tigers are 13 games under, and Detroit is starting whatever's left after Skubal and Verlander get their turns. Even without a posted price, Chicago is the side with the pitching edge, the form edge, and the healthier lineup. Back the White Sox to win.

The White Sox, meanwhile, are the story nobody saw coming. Will Venable's team is 38-33, has gone 11-5 over its last 16, and already took a series off the Dodgers at home before getting punched in the mouth 12-2 by the Yankees on Tuesday. That Yankee Stadium beating is the only real blemish in a month where Chicago has actually looked like a big-league team — and they cash in this weekend if they can put Detroit's bullpen to work early.

Chicago White Sox
Sean Newcomb
(0-2)·2.66 ERA
06/20 Lineup
Detroit Tigers
Troy Melton
(4-1)·2.05 ERA
Jun 9 vs Twins
W
5.0IP
4ER
5K
0BB
88P
06/20 Lineup
Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
(38-33)
Jun 16L@ Yankees2-12
Jun 14Wvs Dodgers6-4
Jun 13Lvs Dodgers1-7
Jun 12Wvs Dodgers8-2
Jun 11Pvs Braves0-0
Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
(30-43)
Jun 17L@ Astros2-4
Jun 16W@ Astros9-3
Jun 14P@ Guardians0-0
Jun 13L@ Guardians1-3
Jun 12L@ Guardians2-3

Detroit is sitting at 30-43 and just got swept-ish by Cleveland (2 losses and a rain-tie) before splitting the first 2 in Houston. The lineup is also short-handed: Gleyber Torres sat Tuesday with a side issue, Colt Keith took a fastball off the wrist (x-rays negative, but he's day-to-day), and Parker Meadows and Javier Baez are both still on the 60-day. That's a lot of regulars to replace against a Sox club starting to swing it.

Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
(16)
  • Day-To-DayHagen Smith (SP) — Smith will be shut down for two weeks after being diagnosed with a left shoulder impingement, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.06/16
  • Day-To-DayTim Elko (1B) — no06/11
  • 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) — White Sox manager Will Venable said Monday that Murakami (hamstring) stayed back in Chicago during the team's road trip and was given a platelet-rich plasma injection, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.06/01
  • 15-Day-ILNoah Schultz (SP) — Schultz (knee) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.06/14
  • 15-Day-ILJordan Hicks (RP) — Hicks (lat) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.06/12
  • 15-Day-ILTyler Gilbert (RP) — The White Sox placed Gilbert on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left shoulder impingement.06/10
  • 60-Day-ILKyle Teel (C) — Teel (knee/hamstring) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.06/14
  • 60-Day-ILAustin Hays (LF) — Hays has been pulled off his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte due to a recurrence of left calf soreness, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.06/09
  • 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-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
Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
(15)
  • Day-To-DayGleyber Torres (2B) — Torres (side) didn't play in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Astros.06/17
  • Day-To-DayColt Keith (3B) — X-rays on Keith's right wrist came back negative Tuesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.06/17
  • Day-To-DayTroy Melton (SP) — Melton is optimistic about avoiding a stint on the 15-day injured list after being scratched from Monday's scheduled start against Houston due to lower-back tightness, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.06/16
  • Day-To-DayJosue Briceno (C) — Briceno said Friday that he expects to be sidelined a few months after having surgery Wednesday to repair a tendon in his right wrist, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.05/08
  • 15-Day-ILCasey Mize (SP) — MIze (adductor) won't be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday against the Guardians after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Cleveland.06/14
  • 15-Day-ILJack Flaherty (SP) — The Tigers placed Flaherty on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left peroneal strain.06/13
  • 15-Day-ILBurch Smith (RP) — Smith (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.06/11
  • 60-Day-ILJustin Verlander (SP) — Verlander (hip) will return from the injured list to start Sunday's game against the White Sox, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.06/16
  • 60-Day-ILJavier Baez (SS) — The Tigers transferred Baez (ankle) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.06/11
  • 60-Day-ILTrey Sweeney (SS) — Sweeney will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery this week, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.06/05
  • 60-Day-ILJackson Jobe (SP) — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Jobe (elbow) is expected to resume facing hitters in live batting practice "in a few weeks," Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.06/04
  • 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-ILBailey Horn (RP) — Horn (elbow) began a throwing progression May 14, MLB.com reports.05/27
  • 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 is dealing with its own stuff — Hagen Smith just got shut down 2 weeks with a shoulder impingement, Noah Schultz and Jordan Hicks are on rehab assignments at Triple-A Charlotte, and Munetaka Murakami is still working back from a hamstring after a PRP injection. But the difference is the Sox are winning games while waiting on those guys. Detroit isn't.

The pitching-matchup card above lays out who's actually toeing the rubber, but the bigger picture is simple: the Tigers need to survive Saturday to get to Verlander on Sunday, and the Sox have every reason to think they can keep the foot down. Anchor this one to the Friday-Skubal, Sunday-Verlander framing — the middle game is where the series gets decided.

Sources

MLBChicago White SoxDetroit TigersPolymarketKalshiSean NewcombTroy Melton