MLB Baseball 8/13/10

Detroit Tigers (55-59) at Chicago White Sox (64-50)

Jeremy Bonderman (R) (6-7) (4.96)-Mark Buehrle (L) (10-9) (4.04)

By Mark-Friday, August 13 2010 8:10 PM EST

Statistical Match Ups & Odds

After watching the White Sox repeatedly leave runners on base in a 6-1 loss, I am left wondering whether they are heading for a slowdown or is it just their problems beating Minnesota or both. Chicago could have an answer to these questions soon enough because they visit Target Field following a three game set with Detroit. However, leaving the bases loaded twice and going just 2-10 with runners in scoring position isn’t something this team has done very often in the last few months. What it all adds up to is they dropped one game back of Minnesota in the American League Central and lost their first series in nearly 2 ½ months. The CWS hand the ball to Mark Buehrle to get the team back on track and his history versus Detroit says he enjoys this match up. He has beaten the Tigers in four straight starts and has a lifetime mark of 15-8 with a 2.95 ERA in 28 outings.

Detroit comes in to this series having won just three of the last ten and have been heading in the opposite direction of their counterparts for most of the last few months. Injuries and poor play, especially on the road have been their calling card, which have not only dropped them from playoff contention but have them struggling to reach .500.Their performance as a visitor is the biggest concern as the Tigers are just 17-35 on the road which is a big factor in their 7-22 slide which has seen them lose 12 of 13 road games. Jeremy Bonderman toes the rubber looking to start a turnaround at Chicago’s expense and defeated them 7-1 ten days ago, going 6.2 innings while allowing one run. Bonderman ended a four game losing streak to the White Sox with that effort and is 2-5 with a 5.48 ERA in eight outings at US Cellular. Overall, Detroit has just struggled against Chicago having fallen in eleven of fifteen.

Detroit is 1-5 in the last 5 versus a left hander, 7-22 in the last 29 overall and 4-1 in Bonderman’s last 5 starts versus a team with a winning record. Chicago is 14-3 in their last 17 home games versus a right hander, 22-5 in their past 27 home games and 9-3 in Buehrle’s last 12 starts.

I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom having dropped in to second place from a Chicago perspective, especially with a chance to get some momentum before heading to Minnesota against a Detroit team they’ve enjoyed great success against. That said, they are just 2-5 in their last seven and get a small play from me.

Mark's Pick: Chicago

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