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White Sox-Tigers Preview

May 17, 2010 - 11:40 PM Chicago (15-22) at Detroit (22-16), 1:05 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Tigers didn't look intimidated during a very difficult stretch at Comerica Park, and the Chicago White Sox's lineup seems unlikely to scare them.

After having the opener of their two-game series against Chicago postponed by rain Monday night, the Tigers look to continue their dominant play at home Tuesday afternoon.

Detroit (22-16) is 14-5 at Comerica Park and went 10-3 in its last 13 at home, winning series against Minnesota, Los Angeles, New York and Boston. The Tigers are the first team to win four straight home series against reigning playoff teams since 1995, when baseball began putting four teams in the postseason.

The Tigers took two of three from the Red Sox with a 5-1 win Sunday. Ramon Santiago hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and Armando Galarraga gave up one run in 5 2-3 innings in his first start of the season.

"It means we're a good team," outfielder Johnny Damon said. "But it's too premature to say how it will all shake out."

The Tigers have been outstanding at Comerica, but so has the White Sox's Freddy Garcia (2-2, 4.75 ERA), who is looking to win his eighth straight start in Detroit.

Garcia is 16-6 with a 3.76 ERA against Detroit, winning seven of his last eight decisions. He hasn't lost to the Tigers on the road since 2002 while with Seattle.

The right-hander is going for his third win overall in as many starts. He gave up two runs in seven innings of a 5-2 victory over the Twins last Tuesday.

Magglio Ordonez will lead Detroit's effort to end Garcia's winning streak at Comerica. Ordonez, batting .440 in the last six games, is 14 for 46 (.304) with six doubles against Garcia.

While the Tigers are rolling, the White Sox (15-22) continue to slump, dropping two of three to Kansas City over the weekend.

Chicago led 2-0 on Sunday but lost 5-3. The White Sox had three players thrown out on the basepaths, one of them A.J. Pierzynski when he tried to go from first to third on a single in the second.

Chicago leads the AL in stolen bases with 44.

"Aggressive is our game," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "A.J. did a good job going for that base, and stolen bases is our game and sometimes that's what you get."

Paul Konerko came into the Royals series hot but went 0 for 11 in the three games. He'll look to get back on track against Rick Porcello (3-3, 6.08), against whom he is 2 for 3 with a home run and a double.

Porcello won for the second time in three starts Wednesday, giving up four hits in seven innings of a 2-0 victory over the Yankees. It was his longest outing of the season after getting through six innings once in his six prior starts.

In Porcello's only start against the White Sox, he allowed five runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-1 home loss July 26.