Tigers, White Sox open five-game set in Windy City

Baseball Betting Lines

07/23/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams will get a very good look at each other over the next couple of days, as the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox begin a rare five-game series tonight at U.S. Cellular Field.

Thanks to a rain out back on April 26, the two teams added an extra game to this original four-game series, as the clubs will play a double-header on Tuesday.

However, Detroit and Chicago will first get reacquainted with one game tonight.

Andrew Miller will start for the Tigers and has alternated wins and losses over his last seven outings. That includes a win over Minnesota on Wednesday, as Miller improved to 5-3 on the season with a 3.18 earned run average after tossing five innings of one-run ball with four hits, four walks and five strikeouts.

The left-hander faced the White Sox once last season in relief, throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings in a Detroit loss on September 19.

The first-place Tigers come into this set on a sour note after dropping two of three to the lowly Kansas City Royals after dropping the rubber match, 5-2, on Sunday.

Nate Robertson (6-7) was battered for 11 hits and five runs -- four earned -- with five strikeouts and one walk over six-plus innings.

Craig Monroe homered in the loss, while Magglio Ordonez had an RBI double for the Tigers, who begin an 11-game road trip tonight and lead Cleveland by just one game for the top spot in the American League Central.

The White Sox, meanwhile, won the opener of their four-game set with Boston on Thursday, but then dropped the next three games.

On Sunday, Josh Fields had two hits and a pair of RBI in the club's 8-5 loss. Juan Uribe had three hits, while Rob Mackowiak, Alex Cintron and Jim Thome knocked in a run apiece.

Chicago starter Jon Garland (7-7) was charged with six runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings, fanning three but walking five in the loss.

Mark Buehrle starts for the White Sox tonight. The left-hander is 3-1 over his last five starts and has pitched particularly well over his last three outings, winning twice while throwing to a 1.21 ERA.

He was last in action on Wednesday when he allowed one runs on 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings in a win over Cleveland. The victory improved Buehrle to 7-5 on the year with a 2.91 ERA.

The 28-year-old has faced Detroit 21 times in his career (20 starts) and is a solid 11-7 against them with a 2.92 ERA and four complete games that includes a pair of shutouts.

Chicago and Detroit have split four games so far this season, with the Tigers winning the lone meeting at U.S. Cellular Field on April 25. The White Sox won 12 of the 19 meetings last year.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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