Barstool Bush
Predictions

Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers

By Bush StaffUpdated 65d ago·2 min read
Chicago White SoxCWS(38-34)
Detroit TigersDET(30-44)
4—5
FINAL
12345678910RHE
CWS
0000021001461
DET
00001001125130

Sunday's series finale at Comerica Park has a hook the schedule-makers couldn't have drawn up better: Verlander, 43, takes the ball for his first home start in a Tigers uniform since 2017 against the Chicago White Sox at 1:40 PM ET. His only big-league outing this year was the 5-run, 3.2-inning loss in Arizona back in April before the left hip flared up, so there's no projecting what version of him Detroit gets — only that Comerica will be loud for it.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
White Sox(38-34)
LLWLW
4
Tigers(30-44)
LLWPL
5
Best BetWhite Sox -101
Pregame

The Tigers are the public name here, but the White Sox are the better team at 38-34 versus Detroit's 30-44 and they're getting a Verlander whose only 2026 sample size is 3.2 innings and 5 runs in Arizona. Whatever number Chicago closes at on the moneyline, the price has to bake in too much narrative discount on the visitor — that's the side with value.

Chicago, somehow, is the more interesting story coming in. Will Venable's group is 38-34 and has spent chunks of June tied with Cleveland atop the AL Central — yes, the same franchise that lost 102 last year. The vibes took a hit in New York, though: the Yankees boat-raced them 12-2 and 10-5 to close the week, and now Hagen Smith is shut down 2 weeks with a shoulder impingement on top of a rotation already missing Schultz, Thorpe and Bush.

Chicago White Sox
Davis Martin
(9-3)·3.08 ERA
Jun 16 @ Yankees
L
3.1IP
9ER
4K
3BB
88P
06/21 Lineup
Detroit Tigers
Keider Montero
(5-5)·3.21 ERA
Jun 11 vs Twins
W
6.1IP
0ER
4K
1BB
96P
06/21 Lineup
Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
(38-34)
Jun 17L@ Yankees5-10
Jun 16L@ Yankees2-12
Jun 14Wvs Dodgers6-4
Jun 13Lvs Dodgers1-7
Jun 12Wvs Dodgers8-2
Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
(30-44)
Jun 17L@ Astros2-4
Jun 17L@ Astros2-4
Jun 16W@ Astros9-3
Jun 14P@ Guardians0-0
Jun 13L@ Guardians1-3

Detroit's last 5 are uglier than the record suggests — a tie in Cleveland, then a 1-2 trip through Houston where they got outscored in the back end. Losing Jack Flaherty to a peroneal strain right before this homestand is exactly why Verlander's return is more than a feel-good — A.J. Hinch needs the innings. Gleyber Torres is still out with the side issue and Wenceel Perez has been in and out of the lineup, so a Tigers offense already missing Parker Meadows is leaning hard on Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson to carry it.

Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
(17)
  • Day-To-DaySean Newcomb (RP) — Newcomb notched a save against the Royals on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over two scoreless innings.06/18
  • 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
(13)
  • Day-To-DayWenceel Perez (RF) — Perez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.06/17
  • 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
  • 10-Day-ILGleyber Torres (2B) — Torres (side) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Houston.06/17
  • 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

The pitching matchup against Verlander is the great unknown for Chicago — with Smith down and Schultz still rehabbing at Triple-A Charlotte, the Sox staff is essentially being held together with bullpen days and Davis Martin-types. If Venable scripts an opener for Sunday's series finale, expect a quick hook on whoever starts and a parade of arms behind it.

Stakes-wise: Chicago is fighting to stay in the Wild Card picture after a humbling weekend, Detroit is trying to claw the season back to something resembling respectable. A Sunday matinee, the old ace on the mound at home, and a White Sox team that's not the punchline anymore. Worth the watch.

Sources

MLBChicago White SoxDetroit TigersPolymarketKalshiDavis MartinKeider Montero