Gamethread: Tigers at White Sox

Game 162. It’s been a wild season. From a no-hitter, to a plethora of walk-off wins, to injuries, to recoveries. We saw a breakout season from Carlos Rodón, the rise of Yermín Mercedes, a historic walk-off win by Tim Anderson into the cornfields of Iowa, the returns of Luis Robert, Eloy Jiménez, and Yasmani Grandal, and the first division title since 2008.

Today will be the final game of the regular season, and the Chicago White Sox will play the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field. Currently at 93-68, the South Siders look to get another win today to sweep the series and end the season on a season-high, seven-game win streak.

Dylan Cease has been historically good against the Tigers, and at home. He will hit the mound today as he looks to extend his record to 14-7. He currently has a 3.95 ERA, in a breakout year for him. Cease mixes up his pitches pretty well, as he throws a fastball 46.7% of the time, and he also uses his slider, curveball, and changeup.

Lefty Tyler Alexander will start this afternoon for the Tigers, who currently has a 2-4 record and 3.95 ERA. In his last start against the Minnesota Twins, Alexander went six innings with just four hits, one run, and six strikeouts. Two starts ago he faced the White Sox, where he went give innings with eight hits, two runs, and just two strikeouts. He uses five pitches, including a cutter, sinker, changeup, fastball, and slider. We will see how he faces off against a hot lineup today.

Anderson will look to continue his hot hitting, as Yoán Moncada. José Abreu gets the day off, as Yasmani Grandal and Jiménez follow. Leury García will continue to get at-bats, while Adam Engel, Andrew Vaughn, and César Hernández end the lineup.

Game time is at 2:10 p.m. CT on NBCSCHI. Listen in on ESPN 1000, at least, if you are watching the Bears game. It’s looking like it will shape up to be a great day for a ballgame, so get out to the park if you can for Fan Appreciation Day.

Let’s all appreciate the wonderful season we’ve had, and end the season on a high note going into the postseason.