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No Javier Báez for game 2 of series

Detroit Tigers (23-26) vs. Chicago White Sox (22-31)

When: 1:10 pm Saturday.

Where: Comerica Park in Detroit.

TV: Bally Sports Detroit.

Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1 in Detroit; Tigers radio affiliate).

Starting pitchers: Tigers RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-2, 4.08 ERA) vs. White Sox TBD.

• Box score

Tigers lineup:

  1. RF Zach McKinstry

  2. CF Riley Greene

  3. 1B Spencer Torkelson

  4. C Eric Haase

  5. DH Nick Maton

  6. LF Akil Baddoo

  7. 3B Jonathan Schoop

  8. Andy Ibanez

  9. Zack Short

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Game notes: Tigers fans should be excused if Friday night’s first inning felt a little familiar. White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson opened the game with a single off Joey Wentz; it was Anderson’s 138th career hit against the Tigers, in 425 plate appearances (or roughly 80% of a full season). He then added three more singles — one each in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings — to reach 141. Only two other players — the super Tiger-killers — have as many hits against the Tigers over the past decade (dating back to the start of the 2014 season, although Anderson didn’t debut until 2016): José Ramírez, with 149; and José Abreu, with 202. (Thankfully for the Tigers, Abreu is no longer in the AL Central.)

Tigers catcher Eric Haase bats against White Sox reliever Reynaldo Lopez during the sixth inning on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Comerica Park.

Tigers catcher Eric Haase bats against White Sox reliever Reynaldo Lopez during the sixth inning on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Comerica Park.

Anderson entered Friday with a career .346/.384/.515 slash line against the Tigers, though you could argue the 29-year-old has been aided by luck more than most: Of the 29 players over that span with at least 250 plate appearances against the Tigers, no one has a higher batting average on balls in play (BABIP) than Anderson’s .410. In fact, none of the other 28 are even close, with Abreu No. 2 at .375. For comparison, the majors, as a whole, have a .302 BABIP against the Tigers since the start of the 2014 season.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, they don’t really have an equivalent ChiSox-killer; there are just three active Tigers with even 100 plate appearances against the Southsiders. There’s Miguel Cabrera, who has 121 hits in 501 plate appearances (including going 0-for-3 with a walk on Friday); Jonathan Schoop, who has 42 hits in 165 plate appearances; and Eric Haase, who has 26 hits in 109 plate appearances. Haase, at least, has provided some power — of those 26 hits, 12 were for extra bases (six homers, six doubles in 32 games).

After today’s matinee, the Tigers and White Sox wrap up their four-game series with a 1:40 pm start Sunday. After that, the Tigers stick with their daywalker lifestyle, opening a three-game set against the Texas Rangers on Monday at 1:10 pm, thanks to Memorial Day. The White Sox, meanwhile, will head home to host the Los Angeles Angels in a Monday night game.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox: Javier Báez not in lineup