Chicago Is So Two Years Ago

Now the Tigers head back to the Midwest for the second part of this schedule-fuck of a road trip. They take on the Chicago White Sox, who nearly swept the Tigs this weekend at Comerica. The Tigs are looking to return the favor, this time at U.S. Cellular Field or whatever the hell it's called now.

However, there's a nail in the path of the Tigs- Chad Durbin is still pitching. Durbin looked awful against the ChiSox last Friday and there's a good chance he's going to look the same, this time in front of a hostile away crowd. I really, really do not like watching this guy pitch- he's just bad. Straight up bad.

John Danks takes the mound for the White Sox, Durbin's opponent on Friday in Detroit. Danks also sucks, so it'll be interesting to see this match-up of the two worst pitchers on elite pitching staffs go at each other again.

The Tigs need a good showing in Chicago to prepare for this weekend's home series against the Twins. The Tigers have lost four of their last six and are seemingly sliding back into the form that we saw them go into at the beginning of the season, where the bullpen can't pitch again. At least it seems that the bats are heating up, with Magglio Ordonez on a huge tear as of late.

Something that definitely needs to improve tonight is the defense of Carlos Guillen. Two erros yesterday and another one the day before, really hurt this team in the Angels' series. Ground balls need to be fielded and turned into put-outs. Especially with Durbin on the mound, the Tigers can't afford to have too many extra guys on base.

Keys to the game-

• Mags needs to keep it up in his old ground. Another big game to show Ozzie Guillen exactly what he allowed to go and insulted on the way out a few years ago.
• Durbin needs to not lose the game. He doesn't have to go out and pitch a no-hitter, he just needs to keep the Chicago bats quiet long enough so that the Tigs can put a few on the board against Danks.
• Don't go to extra innings. I hate extra innings.