Tigers try – Detroit’s late-inning struggles followed them into Friday’s opener in Chicago, where the Tigers fell to the White Sox in extra innings, 4-3. Saturday afternoon, they’ll try to tie up the weekend series at Rate Field with Framber Valdez starting against Anthony
The familiar sting came late again for Detroit.
On Friday night. the Tigers dropped the weekend series opener against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Park. 4-3. in extra innings. Troy Melton gave Detroit seven strong innings for a quality start. and Will Vest protected a 2-1 lead through the eighth—right up until the game found its extra-inning ending the Tigers couldn’t hold off.
By Saturday afternoon. the calendar doesn’t change what the loss felt like. but it does offer another chance to correct the story. The two American League Central rivals will meet again at 2:10 p.m. (ET) at Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois, with Detroit sending left-hander Framber Valdez to the mound.
Valdez. 32. comes in off one of his best outings of the season so far: six frames of one-run ball that included a solo home run and a single. plus two walks and five strikeouts against the Baltimore Orioles. He earned a no-decision in a losing effort. The matchup also has a thread of past experience—Valdez faced the White Sox twice last year with the Houston Astros. throwing five innings in each start with results that were mixed.
Detroit’s opponent will answer with fellow left-hander Anthony Kay. 31. who will be trying to clinch a series win for Chicago. Kay has been excellent in May. posting a 1.98 mark. while his disconerting 4.27 FIP over five games covering 27 1/3 innings points to the kind of swings that can show up at the worst times. In that stretch, he allowed 22 hits, including three home runs, and nine walks, striking out 24. He also hit five batters and threw a wild pitch.
For all the numbers. there’s a simpler detail that stands out: Kay has never faced Detroit in any of his 55 previous major league appearances. That means Saturday won’t come down to old familiarity between pitcher and hitters—it will come down to what each starter can do against what the other lineup brings.
The Tigers enter Game 59 with a record of 22-36, while the White Sox are 30-27.
Detroit Tigers (22-36) vs. Chicago White Sox (30-27)
Time (ET): 2:10 p.m.
Place: Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois
SB Nation Site: South Side Sox
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 59: LHP Framber Valdez (2-3, 4.28 ERA) vs. LHP Anthony Kay (4-1, 3.96 ERA
Framber Valdez vs. Anthony Kay isn’t just another matchup on a weekend schedule. After a Friday night that slipped away in extra innings, Detroit’s hope is straightforward: this time, the late innings won’t write the ending before Saturday is even halfway through.
Detroit Tigers Chicago White Sox Framber Valdez Anthony Kay AL Central extra innings Rate Field Troy Melton Will Vest Game 59 preview
So basically the Tigers just can’t finish innings… smh.
Extra innings again?? I swear Detroit and late game collapse is like a subscription service. Valdez better not walk the whole lineup like I’ve seen sometimes.
I don’t get it, if Kay has a 1.98 in May then why are his numbers still kinda scary? Like the FIP thing means he’s actually bad right? anyway Tigers should’ve won Friday if Melton was “quality” lol
Rate Field? Rate Park? Are they in the same stadium or did they rename it again? Also Valdez with Astros last year… so is he a former Tiger or what? I just want the Tigers to stop giving up late runs because it always feels like the bullpen clocks out.