Rain Alters Tigers-White Sox Finale

September 13, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; The game between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers has been cancelled due to weather at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

Thursday night was all set up to be THE showdown for the American League Central Division. It was going to be the final meeting of the season for the two teams, a single game was the difference in the standings, and both sides had their aces on hill. The Tigers were once again looking to erase a one-game Chicago lead to pull even in the Division race with Justin Verlander, reigning AL Cy Young and MVP award winner, looming large as the game’s starting pitcher. The White Sox were countering with some firepower of their own: Chris Sale, owner of his own sub-3.00 ERA, would take the mound.

But mother nature had other plans. Rain washed the game out before it could begin.

So, instead of the dream finale we thought we were going to witness, Verlander and the Tigers will head to Cleveland to face the Indians for a three game weekend series and Sale and the White Sox will travel to Minnesota to square off with the Twins before everyone returns to the Windy City on Monday for the make-up game.

Doug Fister has been announced as Detroit’s starter for Monday’s 2:10 PM game, and the White Sox have said they’ll go with Gavin Floyd. Not exactly Verlander-Sale, but it will have to do.

Fister was awarded the win in Tuesday’s Tigers-White Sox game after going seven strong innings with six strikeouts while only allowing a pair of runs. Floyd took the loss for Chicago in Wednesday’s game. Floyd, fresh off the disabled list, was impressive early on in the game with seven stirkeouts (and zero runs allowed) in his first four innings of work, but the wheels began to come off as the Tigers touched him for three runs in the fifth inning.

The White Sox have been struggling mightily lateley, with only five wins in their past sixteen games. The Tigers haven’t been much better with only six wins in their previous fifteen games, but five of those wins have come head-to-head with the White Sox. All together, the Tigers own a 12-5 season series advantage versus the White Sox.

Matt  Snyder can be reached on Twitter @snyder_matthew.

For more on the Tigers and White Sox, visit Motor City Bengals and Southside Showdown.