The Detroit Tigers start the 2024 season with a three-game series on the road against a division rival as they take on the Chicago White Sox starting today.
Detroit Tigers (0-0) vs. Chicago White Sox (0-0)
Game 1:
Date: Thursday, March 28
Time: 4:10 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit
Game 2:
Date: Saturday, March 30
Time: 2:10 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit
Game 3:
Date: Sunday, March 31
Time: 2:10 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Tarik Skubal (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Garrett Crochet (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Skubal gets the ball on Opening Day for Detroit, a season that has high expectations for the left-hander. Last season, he made 15 starts going 7-3 with a 2.80 ERA, a 2.00 FIP, a 0.89 WHIP, and 102 strikeouts in 80.1 innings; he was also named American League Pitcher of the Month for September. This spring he has made three starts going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in nine innings. In his career against the White Sox, he has made eight starts going 5-2 with a 4.73 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 40 innings. Garrett Crochet will oppose Skubal, last season he made 13 appearances out of the bullpen going 0-2 with a 3.55 ERA, a 5.70 FIP, a 1.97 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in 12.2 innings. This spring he has made four appearances with one coming as a start going 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in nine innings. In his career against Detroit, he has made seven appearances going 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA, a 1.80 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in ten innings.
Game 2: Kenta Maeda (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Michael Soroka (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Maeda signed with the Tigers this offseason leaving a division rival in the Minnesota Twins to join Detroit. Last season in Minnesota he made 21 appearances with 20 coming as starts going 6-8 with a 4.23 ERA, a 4.02 FIP, a 1.16 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts in 104.1 innings. This spring he has made four starts going 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 13.1 innings. In his career against Chicago, he has made seven starts going 3-2 with a 5.02 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts in 37.2 innings. Soroka will face Maeda and last season he made seven appearances with six coming as starts for the Braves going 2-2 with a 6.40 ERA, a 6.56 FIP, a 1.48 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts in 32.1 innings. This spring he has made four starts going 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 13 innings. Against Detroit in his career he is 1-0 in his lone start going 6.2 innings giving up three runs on seven hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out five.
Game 3: Jack Flaherty (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Erick Fedde (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Flaherty will get the ball in the finale, making his Tigers debut after signing this offseason. Last season he made 31 appearances with 23 of those coming as starts going 6-8 with a 4.04 ERA, a 3.83 FIP, a 1.10 WHIP, and 135 strikeouts in 129.1 innings. This spring he has made four starts going 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA, a 0.80 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. Fedde will also be making his debut for the White Sox, he pitched in the KBO last season making 30 starts going 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP, and 209 strikeouts in 180.1 innings. This spring he made four starts going 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and eight strikeouts in 14 innings. He has never faced Detroit in his career.
Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox Leaders
(Spring Training Players)
Tigers:
AVG – Parker Meadows – .358
HR – Andy Ibanez – 5
RBI – Andy Ibanez – 11
IP – Casey Mize – 20.1
ERA – Casey Mize – 2.21
K – Jack Flaherty – 26
White Sox:
AVG – Eloy Jimenez – .333
HR – Paul DeJong – 3
RBI – Paul DeJong – 16
IP – Nick Nastrini – 14.1
ERA – Michael Soroka – 1.38
K – Michael Soroka – 17
Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox Numbers
(Spring Training Rank)
Tigers
AVG: .252 (14)
OPS: .777 (8)
R: 170 (6)
HR: 45 (5)
ERA: 3.85 (4)
K: 352 (1)
WHIP: 1.19 (2)
White Sox
AVG: .244 (24)
OPS: .697 (24)
R: 135 (21)
HR: 25 (23)
ERA: 4.91 (22)
K: 275 (17)
WHIP: 1.49 (28)
Wrap Up
The Detroit Tigers are heading into this 2024 season with a lot of expectations and a real chance at winning the American League Central. They brought in some new arms who will be showcased in this series and have one of their top prospects on the Opening Day roster, it’s a lot to be optimistic about. They start against an American League Central rival and they need to reciprocate what they did last season by having a winning record against the other teams in the Central, they finished 35-17 against the other four teams. They need to win this series to make their statement for the season.
