The Tigers open a four game series at the White Sox on Thursday, September 17 at 7:40 p.m. ET at Rate Field. Chicago (77-75) lost the AL Central lead to Cleveland on Wednesday night and now holds the third AL wild card by a game; Detroit (72-80) is all but out of the race and has won seven of its last ten. Framber Valdez starts for the Tigers against Erick Fedde.
Game Info
| First pitch | 7:40 p.m. ET (6:40 p.m. CT) |
| TV | Chicago Sports Network (Chicago), Detroit SportsNet (Detroit); MLB.tv out of market |
| Detroit starter | LHP Framber Valdez, 10-10, 4.01 ERA, 121 strikeouts |
| Chicago starter | RHP Erick Fedde, 8-9, 3.97 ERA |
| Rest of series | Fri 7:40 p.m. ET (Andrew Sears), Sat 7:10 (Jackson Jobe), Sun 2:10 (Troy Melton); White Sox starters TBA |
Why It Matters
The White Sox are in a real race for the first time in years and it is slipping. A 6-3 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday dropped them a half game behind the Guardians in the AL Central, and they have lost seven of their last ten. They still hold the third wild card at 77-75, one game ahead of Houston and Texas (both 76-76) and a game and a half ahead of Toronto, so every game of this series moves two races at once. This four game set also ends a 13 day stretch without a day off for Chicago, which has not named starters beyond Thursday.
Detroit is not mathematically eliminated but is six games behind Cleveland with ten to play, headed for its first missed postseason since 2023. The Tigers can still shape the division. Valdez, the offseason signing from Houston, opens the series; Troy Melton (8-4, 2.52), Detroit’s best right hander this season, closes it Sunday. This is the Tigers’ final road series of 2026.
AL Central and Wild Card Entering Thursday
| Team | Record | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 78-75 | AL Central leader |
| Chicago White Sox | 77-75 | Half game back; wild card 3 |
| Detroit | 72-80 | 6 games back |
| Minnesota | 71-81 | 7 games back |
| Kansas City | 67-85 | Eliminated |
Records through Wednesday, September 16. See the AL wild card standings for the full picture.
Related
Thursday’s probable pitchers · MLB playoff picture · Magic numbers · Red Sox vs. Rangers tonight
The Bottom Line
Tigers at White Sox, 7:40 p.m. ET Thursday, Valdez against Fedde. Chicago is trying to get the division lead back and protect a wild card; Detroit is playing spoiler in its last road series of the year.