The Detroit Tigers have struggled to find their early-season rhythm in recent weeks, but they may have taken a step toward regaining that momentum over the weekend.
The Tigers look to build on a strong offensive showing when they open a three-game series against the host Chicago White Sox on Monday.
Kerry Carpenter drove in four runs, including a three-run homer, to lead Detroit to a 9-5 win over the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.
Riley Greene added a two-run homer and had three RBIs for the Tigers, who took two of three games from the Angels and collected 10 hits in Sunday’s victory.
“That was a long time coming,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “(Our) control of the strike zone was excellent today on the offensive side, and then we did damage when we had them vulnerable. We just continued to put up some good at-bats, and some near-misses, which is a good sign.”
Detroit is beginning a seven-game road trip with a series against Chicago, which averted a three-game sweep by beating the visiting Cleveland Guardians 6-4 on Sunday.
Lenyn Sosa and Colson Montgomery each hit first-inning homers for the White Sox, who snapped a six-game losing streak with the victory.
Montgomery’s 452-foot homer is the furthest of any player at Rate Field this season. The solo shot was Montgomery’s ninth homer of his rookie season.
“In the box, he’s a threat at the plate, he’s looking to do damage,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said.
Chicago is expected to open with right-hander Elvis Peguero (0-0, 4.91 ERA) in the series opener. Peguero was recalled on Sunday from Triple-A Charlotte after the White Sox had selected him off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 3.
Peguero appeared in six games this season as a reliever for Milwaukee and had a 4.91 ERA with four walks and five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings. He made 27 relief appearances for the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate in Nashville and went 3-2 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 1/3 innings.
The White Sox have a void in the rotation created after right-hander Jonathan Cannon was sent to Triple-A Charlotte last Friday. Cannon (4-9, 5.34) gave up seven runs in 1 1/3 innings in an 8-6 loss to host Seattle last Wednesday.
“I know (Cannon) was disappointed, but he understood,” Getz said. “We still believe in him, of course, like we believe in so many of our players. And that’s why we made the move. We know there’s a better version of Jonathan Cannon than what we’ve seen here recently.”
Detroit will counter with right-hander Chris Paddack (4-10, 4.91), who is set to make his third start since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins on July 28.
After pitching six strong innings in a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in his Tigers debut, Paddack allowed four runs over four innings in a 6-3 loss to the Twins last Tuesday.
Andrew Benintendi is 4-for-10 with a homer against Paddack, who is 1-2 with a 5.75 ERA in 20 1/3 innings over four career starts versus the White Sox.
The Tigers will be without outfielder Matt Vierling for an extended period after he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain on Sunday.
“Timing-wise, we’re obviously towards the tail end of the season,” Hinch said. “We have not eliminated the chance for him to come back. The severity of (the oblique strain) is mild, but clearly he’s going on the IL.”
Shortstop Trey Sweeney was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to replace Vierling on the roster.
–Field Level Media
