The Detroit Tigers have some big games coming up, but they still want to end the regular season on the right note.
The Tigers (86-75) won the American League wild card with a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday. Detroit had its six-game winning streak snapped by a 4-0 loss to the White Sox on Saturday. The teams will play the regular season series and finale in Detroit on Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers enjoyed Friday night’s celebration, then needed to get ready for Saturday afternoon’s contest. It ended up being delayed by 2 hours and 20 minutes due to bad weather.
Manager AJ Hinch couldn’t shake the hangover defeat after celebrating.
“I don’t want to make excuses,” he said. “There was a lot of energy this morning coming out last night. Then we settled down a bit and then we came out and it wasn’t a good day to play. We’re going to fix this thing and go through it again. Come back tomorrow.
“We have a chance to win the series and (finish) the regular season on a better note and get a good night’s sleep. I think we all need it.”
Detroit will face either Houston or Baltimore in the wild-card round, which begins Tuesday.
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal (18-4, 2.39 ERA) was available to play Sunday if the team’s playoff fate was undecided. The potential American League Cy Young Award winner will now be held until the postseason opener on Tuesday. The Tigers did not announce a starter for the final game of the regular season.
“It’s going to be fun. That’s the reason I put in the work every offseason and inseason, to get that opportunity and have confidence in AJ and the guys in the clubhouse,” Skubal said in an MLB Network interview.
The White Sox (40-121) on Friday set the current record for most losses in a season, surpassing the 1962 New York Mets. But Chicago’s win on Saturday was their fourth in five games.
Rookie right-hander Jonathan Cannon (4-10, 4.37 ERA) will start the tight end for the White Sox. Cannon had one of his best outings of the season on Tuesday, holding the Los Angeles Angels scoreless for six innings while scattering three hits and recording seven strikeouts in a 3-2 win over Chicago.
He will begin his 21st season on Sunday. He struggled in two outings against Detroit this season, going 0-2 with an 18.00 ERA. He allowed 13 runs (10 earned) on 15 hits in five innings in those two starts. Tigers second baseman Colt Keith had four hits, including a homer, and a walk against Cannon.
Whatever the outcome on Sunday, it will be the perfect ending to the worst season in White Sox history.
“It’s been a tough year for everybody,” first baseman Gavin Sheets said. “It was hard on the mind, it was hard on the body. I feel bad that everyone in this room has been a part of this.”
Saturday’s victory for the White Sox was the second against the Tigers in 12 meetings this season. Detroit is 28-23 against Central Division opponents.
–Field Level Media