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Tigers pin their hopes on Verlander in Chicago

Aug 29, 2014 - 2:38 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Tigers would love to see Justin Verlander round into form down the stretch, but getting the former MVP healthy is the first step.

Verlander will start Friday night on some extra rest as the Tigers kick off an extended four-game series with the Chicago White Sox.

The right-hander was last in action on Saturday in Minnesota and won for the first time in three outings even though he gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings. It was his first start since Aug. 11 following a bout with shoulder inflammation.

"I could tell there was some rust," Verlander told Detroit's website. "I think I probably threw one or two pitches where I wanted my whole bullpen (session pregame). But you turn the page, go into the game and you just gotta flip the switch and go out there and execute."

The win moved Verlander to 11-11 with a 4.82 earned run average this season and he is 15-13 in his career with a 4.16 ERA in 32 starts versus the White Sox.

Detroit is coming off a series win over the New York Yankees, with Thursday's 3-2 victory putting the Tigers into a tie with the Seattle Mariners for the American League's second wild card spot.

Alex Avila was the hero on Thursday, smacking a single off the right-field wall with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to plate pinch-runner Bryan Holaday.

"I knew I hit it good," Avila said. "I didn't know if I hit it well enough to go out (but) I knew I hit it well enough to get a shot at driving in a run."

While the Tigers won for the fourth time in five games, the White Sox lost for the eighth time in their last nine contests as they were bested 3-2 by the Cleveland Indians on Thursday.

Jose Abreu and Adam Dunn each drove in a run for the White Sox, while John Danks lost his third straight decision as he was charged with two runs on five hits in six innings.

"He definitely pitched better and had a good changeup today," said Chicago manager Robin Ventura about Danks. "He really didn't make any big mistakes, and was able to keep us in the game."

Scott Carroll will start tonight for Chicago and lost his last outing on Saturday versus the Yankees. He yielded five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and three walks over six innings. And despite not recording a strikeout, Carroll didn't seem too displeased with his outing afterwards.

"That's what is frustrating is that the line isn't indicative of how well I threw the ball," said Carroll.

The 29-year-old righty has allowed at least four runs in five of his last six outings, moving to 5-8 with a 5.05 ERA on the year.

Carroll has never faced the Tigers and comes in with a 5.98 ERA in 10 games (6 starts) at home.

The Tigers and White Sox have split 12 meetings this season and will play a doubleheader on Saturday to make up a June 10 postponement.