Sports Today Friday, September 18
← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 18, 2026
Detroit Tigers
72-81 · 3rd in AL Central, 6 GB
Bats heating up
Andrew Sears
@
Chicago White Sox
78-75 · 1st in AL Central
Offense cooling lately
RHP David Sandlin · Balanced starter
MLB · Rate Field · 4:40 PM PT

Team Identity

Detroit Tigers
Season-to-date, 153 games, 5,982 PA.
A patient offense that works counts and draws walks, though it can be station-to-station. The bats have been heating up lately.
Power
Average51
Contact
Below Avg40
Plate Discipline
Above Avg79
Speed
Well Below12
RISP
Below Avg27
Recent Form
Trending Up
Walk rate is up 40% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Chicago White Sox
Season-to-date, 153 games, 6,019 PA.
A power-hitting, patient offense that does damage on extra-base hits, though it can be strikeout-prone. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Above Avg68
Contact
Well Below23
Plate Discipline
Above Avg68
Speed
Below Avg29
RISP
Below Avg31
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 20% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

White Sox bring the more power-hitting profile, while Tigers lean on being patient.

Swing Factor

Tigers walk in 9.1% of trips; David Sandlin allows walks at a fairly typical rate (9.2%).

Momentum

Tigers are trending up and White Sox are trending down over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can David Sandlin command the strike zone?
Tigers walk in 9.1% of trips; David Sandlin allows walks at a fairly typical rate (9.2%).
Edge · TigersTigers: 9.1% walk rateDavid Sandlin: 9.2% walks allowedLow confidence
Can David Sandlin miss enough bats?
David Sandlin strikes hitters out at a 22.1% clip (57th percentile); Tigers carry a 22.1% strikeout rate.
Edge · TigersDavid Sandlin: 22.1% K rateTigers: 22.1% K rateLow confidence
How do Tigers handle right-handers?
Tigers have produced better against right-handers this season (0.352 vs. 0.343 TB/PA overall).
Edge · Tigersvs right-handers: 0.352 TB/PA (4257 PA)overall: 0.343 TB/PAModerate confidence
Can David Sandlin limit Tigers' power?
Tigers rank in the 51st percentile in extra-base production, while David Sandlin sits in the 48th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · TigersTigers: 0.343 TB/PADavid Sandlin: 0.344 TB/PA allowed (131 PA)Low confidence

Pitcher Trends

David Sandlin
David Sandlin
Chicago White Sox · 6 starts
SP
Strikeouts4.8/start
Hits allowed4.0/start
4 or fewer Hits Allowed — 4 of last 64 or fewer Strikeouts — 3 of last 6
22% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Brenton Doyle
Brenton Doyle
Chicago White Sox · 0.400 hit rate · 0.533 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L104 / 10L2511 / 253-game hit streak
Hit rate is up 104% over his prior baseline, with hits in 4 of his last 5 games.
Spencer Torkelson
Spencer Torkelson
Detroit Tigers · 0.257 hit rate · 0.486 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L55 / 5L107 / 10L2513 / 256-game hit streak
On-base rate is up 50% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 10 games.
Kyle Teel
Kyle Teel
Chicago White Sox · 0.172 hit rate · 0.310 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L51 / 5L104 / 10L2510 / 25
On-base rate is up 100% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 9 games.
Colson Montgomery
Colson Montgomery
Chicago White Sox · 0.028 hit rate · 0.056 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L50 / 5L101 / 10L258 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 85% over his prior baseline, with hits in 1 of his last 9 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 39%.
Tristan Peters
Tristan Peters
Chicago White Sox · 0.083 hit rate · 0.111 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L104 / 10L2514 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 73% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 9 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 25%.
Dillon Dingler
Dillon Dingler
Detroit Tigers · 0.143 hit rate · 0.286 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L106 / 10L2515 / 25
On-base rate is down 53% over his prior baseline, with hits in 4 of his last 7 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 32%.

Players Positioned to Succeed

79
Riley Greene
Riley Greene
1+ Hit
Detroit Tigers
Why it stands out
Batting 4th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
78
Kevin McGonigle
Kevin McGonigle
1+ Hit
Detroit Tigers
Why it stands out
Batting 1st, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
72
Miguel Vargas
Miguel Vargas
1+ Hit
Chicago White Sox
Why it stands out
Batting 1st, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
68
Chase Meidroth
Chase Meidroth
1+ Hit
Chicago White Sox
Why it stands out
Batting 5th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
65
Gleyber Torres
Gleyber Torres
1+ Hit
Detroit Tigers
Why it stands out
Batting 2nd, confirmed lineup
Main risk
Recent hit rate has cooled
64
Max Clark
Max Clark
1+ Hit
Detroit Tigers
Why it stands out
Batting 7th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk

Expected Game Shape

UncertainLow confidence

Probable-starter data is incomplete, so the shape is hard to call. Tigers bring stronger recent momentum. White Sox bring more power.

Early edge White Sox Driver Unclear without matched starters Volatility Elevated
  • At least one probable starter could not be matched to stored data.
  • Tigers are trending up; White Sox are trending down.

Storylines to Watch

Can Colson Montgomery snap out of it?
Colson Montgomery has cooled off. Total bases per PA is down 85% over his prior baseline, with hits in 1 of his last 9 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 39%.
0.028 hit rate · 0.056 TB/PA · 0.184 hit rate · 0.380 TB/PA
Is Brenton Doyle the one to watch?
Brenton Doyle enters as White Sox's hottest bat. Hit rate is up 104% over his prior baseline, with hits in 4 of his last 5 games.
0.400 hit rate · 0.533 TB/PA · 0.196 hit rate · 0.321 TB/PA
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-18, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.