Gamethread: White Sox at Tigers

Time: 12:10 p.m. CST

TV: NBC Sports Chicago

Radio: WGN-720

Happy Kopech Day, everyone! I will add live updates and observations early on for Michael Kopech’s second major league start.

He has a favorable matchup in Motown today. The Detroit Tigers rank 26th in MLB in average (.241) and are getting on base at just a .299 clip. They don’t strike out as often as you might think (ninth-best strikeout total in the majors), but that could certainly change with the man on the mound today.

Kopech’s major league debut was cut short due to a rain delay. He lasted just two innings, but his stuff looked good. His fastball sat 96-98 mph, and his off-speed pitches looked tantalizing.

Jordan Zimmermann gets the start for the Tigers. He has been absolutely rocked by Sox hitters in the past, possessing a 6.14 career ERA against the South Siders. All signs point to taking three out of four from the Tigers.

2:20 p.m.

Kopech gives up his first run but induces a 6-4-3 double play with the bases loaded to escape further trouble. 5-1 Sox through six innings.

1:57 p.m.

67 pitches in five scoreless innings for Kopech. Got two groundouts and one flyout in the fifth. Sox still up 4-0.

1:45 p.m.

Kopech strands the bases loaded. Command escaped him a bit with two HBPs and a single, but he hunkered down and got out of the jam. No runs through four innings.

1:27 p.m.

Two flyouts and a strikeout for Kopech. He’s at 45 pitches through three.

1:21 p.m.

NON-KOPECH UPDATE...

I love Daniel Palka. His two-run rocket puts the Sox up 4-0 in the third.

1:03 p.m.

Kopech allows a hit to lead-off man Victor Martinez. He then gets Jim Adduci to fly out and James McCann to foul out. Mikie Mahtook then hit a groundball at 99 mph off the bat that bounced off Kopech’s leg, but he stayed in the game. Kopech then retires Ronny Rodriguez on a fly ball to center field. A little over 30 pitches for him through two.

12:50 p.m.

Kopech strikes out Jaimer Candelario on seven pitches. He then gets Niko Goodrum to ground out on the first pitch. Kopech finishes the inning with a strikeout of Nicholas Castellanos on three pitches. He reached 98 mph on the gun. So far so good.

Lineups: