Perhaps familiarity will help the White Sox rebound against the Detroit Tigers. On Saturday afternoon they'll send former Tiger pitcher Edwin Jackson to the mound to try to prevent the start of another losing streak.
Jackson has had a good start to the year for the Sox. He's 2-1 over four starts with a 3.51 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. Lately he's had it a bit rough, however, giving up three and then four earned runs in his two most recent starts. Against the Tigers over his career, Jackson is 3-1 over seven starts with a 3.33 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. Jackson's biggest obstacle may come from Magglio Ordonez, who is hitting .500 against him with a double and a home run.
The Tigers will counter Jackson by sending Brad Penny to the mound. Penny has been roughed up this season quite a bit. He's currently 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA and 1.69 WHIP. In his most recent start against Oakland, he gave up five earned runs over just five innings while walking four. He's never faced off against the White Sox as a team, having spent most of his career in the National League. A few of the Sox hitters have seen him before, though. Alex Rios and Carlos Quentin both hit him pretty well, with .750 and .500 averages and 1.869 and 1.583 OPS against him respectively. Given how hot Carlos Quentin has been lately, this is nothing but good news for Sox fans.
The weather in Detroit is forecast to be quite nice, only partly cloudy with a high in the low 70's. First pitch is at 3:10 P.M., CDT, and the game will be televised on Fox.