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Tigers-White Sox Preview

Jun 8, 2009 - 1:14 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Detroit (30-25) at Chicago (26-30), 8:11 p.m. EDT

If the Chicago White Sox are going to be a factor in the AL Central race, they'll likely need to continue their home success against the first-place Detroit Tigers. A key five-game series at U.S. Cellular Field certainly provides that opportunity.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen hopes his team can solve its offensive issues and get this series off to a strong start on Monday in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.

Chicago (26-30) is third in the Central, 4 1/2 games behind Detroit (30-25) and one in back of Minnesota.

The White Sox hope to make up ground by improving on their 13-4 home mark against the Tigers, dating to a loss on July 23, 2007. That defeat came in the opener of the last five-game series in the majors, as Chicago won three.

This series was expanded from four to five games after a May 6 rainout.

"I'm not going to say it's the biggest series of the year, but it's one of the more important ones right now," Guillen told the team's official Web site. "It's going to be a huge series."

Guillen, though, may be more concerned with Chicago's recent struggles. His club has lost five of seven and has been outscored 35-17 while batting .189 during a 12-game homestand. The White Sox lost for the fifth time in six games Sunday, falling 8-4 to Cleveland.

"It's so disappointing when you play like that," said Guillen, who later left the press conference spewing expletives about his team. "It takes the wind out of you. We don't know what to do. Everything we try doesn't work. Maybe if I go crazy with the media and (rip) my team ... I might wake them up. But it's wasting my time."

Guillen hopes the offense, which ranks 12th in the AL with a .250 average, can provide some support for Clayton Richard (2-1, 3.97 ERA) as he makes his first start against Detroit.

The left-hander gave up five runs and seven hits, including three homers, in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-3 loss to Oakland on Wednesday. He was 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his previous four starts after moving into the rotation.

Detroit, which is coming off Sunday's 9-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels, will give the ball to Armando Galarraga (3-6, 5.31) as he tries to win for the first time in eight starts.

The right-hander is 0-6 with a 7.61 ERA in his last seven outings, including a defeat at Chicago on May 7 when he allowed six runs and six hits in six innings of a 6-0 loss. That rough stretch comes after he went 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA in his first four games of 2009.

Galarraga lost again Wednesday, allowing four runs in seven innings of a 10-5 loss to Boston.

The Tigers, though, hope to get a lift in the second game with the return of Jeremy Bonderman, who is expected to be activated from the disabled list after being sidelined since June 1, 2008, following the discovery of a blood clot in his pitching shoulder.

The right-hander went 3-4 with a 4.29 ERA in 12 starts last year prior to undergoing surgery.

Bonderman was solid in four minor league rehab starts, going 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA and using his changeup more often.

"It's going to be a different style of game than what I'm used to," Bonderman told the Tigers' official Web site.

Bonderman has lost his last three starts against Chicago, posting a 6.52 ERA.

The White Sox will give Jose Contreras (0-5, 8.19) his first start since being sent to the minors after allowing five runs and six hits in 3 2-3 innings of a 6-0 loss to Texas on May 8.

The right-hander has a chance to earn a spot in the rotation despite not posting a win since beating the Chicago Cubs on June 27 of last year - a span of 10 starts.

"He feels great, and Jose is throwing the ball well," Guillen said.

Contreras is 0-6 with an 8.61 ERA in his last eight starts against the Tigers.