Jonathan Cannon’s sporadic control problems began during a start against the Detroit Tigers in early April.
On Monday, nearly two months later, the Chicago White Sox right-hander gets the chance to correct himself as the Tigers visit in the opener of a four-game series.
Cannon (2-6, 4.15 ERA) walked three Tigers and plunked two others over 3 2/3 innings in an April 4 outing in Detroit.
The rest of the month featured more of the same before Cannon regrouped in May, issuing just one walk and hitting two batters in five starts covering 28 2/3 innings.
While he lost Tuesday’s road start to the New York Mets, Cannon was impressive after yielding a pair of two-run home runs in the first inning, holding New York to one run over the next 4 2/3 innings.
“I’ve run into issues in the past. You give (up runs in that first inning) and you think you have to be perfect and you fall behind and walk guys,” Cannon said. “But just knowing that the stuff is good, the stuff is going to play, you have to continue to get ahead and pitch to guys like I know how.”
Cannon said he felt comfortable after being scratched from his previous scheduled start against Texas with lower back tightness.
Chicago took two of three in a home series against the Rangers but is coming off a 1-5 road trip against the Mets and Baltimore Orioles.
Cannon is 1-3 with an 11.20 ERA in four career starts against the Tigers. He has allowed four home runs with 11 strikeouts and 10 walks in 13 2/3 innings.
American League Central-leading Detroit, which swept the visiting White Sox during the first weekend in April, has won six of its last seven.
The Tigers are coming off Sunday’s 1-0 victory against Kansas City, as five pitchers combined on a nine-hit shutout. Starter Keider Montero worked 4 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
While Detroit scored the game’s only run on a wild pitch, the club typically has benefited from a balance of power. Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter each have hit at least 10 home runs.
Detroit may activate center fielder Parker Meadows during the series. Meadows has not played this season as he works through a right upper arm nerve issue. He made 33 plate appearances during an eight-game minor league rehab assignment.
“I talked to him late (Saturday) night to get a little bit more feedback on him,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He’s doing really well. We’ll have a plan to make sure.”
The Tigers will turn to veteran right-hander Jack Flaherty. Flaherty (3-6, 3.94) worked six scoreless innings on Tuesday, scattering two hits and eight strikeouts to defeat the San Francisco Giants.
Flaherty beat the White Sox in the April 4 game behind 5 2/3 innings of one-run, three-hit ball. He is 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA in four career starts against Chicago with 25 strikeouts in 21 innings.
–Field Level Media
