The Detroit Tigers got absolutely swept by the Chicago White Sox this past weekend, and just like that, they’re 5½ games back in the AL Central. Talk about a brutal blow! This team entered that series feeling like they could do no wrong, riding a sweet nine-win streak in their last 12 games. They even had a shot to leapfrog the White Sox into first place. The opposite happened.
Momentum Killer: The White Sox Sweep and What’s Next for the Division
That sweep by the White Sox wasn’t just a tough loss; it sucked all the momentum out of the Tigers. Now the White Sox are firmly back in command of the AL Central, sitting 5½ games up. It’s a huge gut punch, no doubt, but hey, there are still 38 games left on the schedule for Detroit. The good news is, the Tigers have been playing some seriously good baseball since June 1, racking up a 38-26 record. That’s the second-best mark in the American League, only behind the Boston Red Sox. Meanwhile, their opponents tonight, the Pittsburgh Pirates, are 29-37 in that same stretch, which is 22nd in all of MLB. You’d think that’s a good setup for a bounce-back, right?
Tonight’s Mound Mayhem: Struggling Lefty vs. The Opener
Tonight’s game is Monday, August 17, at 7:05 p.m. ET, and it’s on ESPN against the Pittsburgh Pirates. For Detroit, we’ve got struggling lefty Framber Valdez on the hill. The Pirates are throwing out Carmen Mlodzinski, who they’ve used as both a starter and a reliever this year. This will be his third straight start, but honestly, he’s more of an opener. He hasn’t pitched four innings or more since June 4. Plus, Mlodzinski has struggled big time in his last two outings, giving up nine runs in just 5⅓ innings. The prediction for tonight? The Tigers bounce back after that ugly series, come out swinging against Mlodzinski, and hold on for a 7-4 win. Valdez might give up a few runs, but the Tigers are supposed to build a big enough lead early.
After this critical matchup, the Tigers head to Kansas City for a three-game series against the Royals, starting Friday. Right now, the Tigers are 60-64, sitting just one game behind for an AL wild card spot. Every single game is massive. Let’s see if they can recapture that June magic.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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