The Chicago White Sox are doing their best to make the AL Central race a two-horse race. They have been locked in with Minnesota back and forth atop the division for the better part of the summer.  Detroit is a distant third, currently sitting seven games back heading into the third game of this four-game series with the division-leading White Sox.

Ever since the White Sox nine-game winning streak in early July, they have been pegged as a dark horse AL pennant contender. The Tigers, on the other hand, have struggled against the toughest portion of their schedule and have been unable to gain ground recently. Divisional games are all must wins for Jim Leyland’s group, including Wednesday night’s showdown between the White Sox and the Tigers at 7:05 p.m. ET at Comerica Park in Detroit.

This is the third game of the four-game series with the teams splitting a doubleheader on Tuesday. Chicago took the first game 12-2, but Detroit countered with a 7-1 blowout win of its own.

White Sox vs. Tigers pitching matchup

Edwin Jackson (6-10, 5.16 ERA) vs. Armando Galarraga (3-3, 4.28 ERA)
This meeting between AL Central rivals gives us arguably the most interesting pitching matchup of the year. The White Sox send the recently acquired Jackson to the mound while the Tigers counter with Galarraga. Jackson pitched a no-hitter with Arizona earlier this year. In his no-hitter he walked eight batters and had to throw 149 pitchers. And then you have Galarraga, who pitched one of the greatest games in major league history, but was denied a perfect game after a blown call at first base. He retired the very next batter. Many pundits say Galarraga is the only pitcher to ever retire 28 batters in a perfect game. The Jackson acquisition remains a questionable decision.

Despite both pitchers accomplishments, this season has been anything but a banner year. Nobody will be lining up at Comerica Park waiting to see a pitcher’s duel Wednesday night. Jackson owns a 5.16 ERA and Galarraga was even sent to the minors for a stint after his near-perfect game.

White Sox vs. Tigers Odds
Both teams are listed at -110 in the rubber match of this series with the total set at 9. MLB betting lines are courtesy of Sportsbook.com

White Sox vs. Tigers Trends
White Sox are 27-8 in their last 35 games against a right-handed starting pitcher
White Sox are 37-14 in their last 51 overall
Tigers are 3-13 in their last 16 games vs. a right-handed starting pitcher
Tigers are 0-6 in their last 6 vs. AL Central opponents but 4-2 against the White Sox this year
Tigers are 1-7 in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record
Tigers are 5-2 in the last 7 home games that Galarraga has started

White Sox vs. Tigers Picks and Predictions
These divisional games are must wins for the Tigers, but they have struggled the most when the stakes are the highest and against AL Central opposition. Detroit has lost eight of its last 10 and is 17-22 within the division. But the Tigers are one of the best teams at home in baseball (36-18) and they have had success against Chicago (4-2).

Jackson is taking the mound for the first time this season in the American League, but he is no stranger to the competition. He pitched his entire career in the AL before going to Arizona last season. He was 13-9 as a Tiger last season with a 3.62 ERA. Unfortunately for him that was his best season as a major leaguer. Before that his ERA teetered between 5.45 and 7.30 for four seasons. Through 21 starts in Arizona it looks like it is back to the old Jackson. That is good news for Detroit who needs to take advantage of the pitching matchup and the home game. Detroit is the play in this rubber match.

Jason Sharp is the newest addition to Doc’s Sports Advisory Board team and we are very excited to have one of the best MLB Handicapping minds in the country on our team. His baseball picks were 7-0 last week. Don’t miss out on his profitable MLB picks packages! Click Here for his Insider’s Page.