Detroit Tigers (9-6) vs Chicago White Sox (7-7)
Comerica Park @ 7:05pm EST
FSN-HD / AM 1270 / FM 97.1

Chad Durbin (0-1, 12.46) vs John Danks (0-2, 3.97)

Chad Durbin is getting his third start after having two he’d rather have back. Many, including myself, expect that if this outing goes as the others it could be his last. So far Jim Leyland has been standing behind Durbin:

“I’m not skipping Durbin,” he said. “Durbin needs to get out there and pitch again — that’s No. 1 — and it’s very valuable for (the other starters) to get the extra day.”

It is not hard to see why with no other great options in the immediate term and looking back at Durbin’s spring (3-0, 2.08 ERA). He just needs to pull it together and give the Tigers 6 innings and keep them in the game. Nobody is looking for Bonderman-like stats but they want the chance to be in the game without having to tap into the bullpen in the fourth inning. Luckily he’ll be facing an offense that is currently ranked last in team batting average (.215), but this lineup certainly has the ability to be dangerous.

The Tigers offense will face rookie John Danks who beat out many to get the fifth spot on the White Sox rotation, namely Gavin Floyd. Danks pitched last year in both Double-A and Triple-A in the Rangers organization averaging 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. So far he’s gotten two losses but that speaks little to his performance which, overall, has been good. His last start he gave up two homeruns in the same inning but was pretty tough outside of that. The Tigers could be headed for troubles unless the offense wakes up.