White Sox-Tigers preview

DETROIT -- Matt Boyd is more focused on the present than the future.

The young left-hander is making a strong case to be counted on for inclusion in the Detroit Tigers 2017 rotation.

He understands that goal can best be served by pitching well enough to remain a Detroit starter through the end of the season, which so far he has done exceedingly well.

Boyd (5-2, 3.98 ERA) starts Monday night against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park in the opening of a three-game series. Detroit holds an 8-5 edge over Chicago so far.

"When you start looking within your division, we haven't played (that well)," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "You have to be able to reverse that, find a way to be able to win those games.

"Games like (Saturday night, 9-3 win over Seattle) can help. But you want to be able to do that within your division.

"We have some tough teams within the division as well, teams that can pitch, and Detroit, offensively, that's a tough team. You have to be able to stop them and you have to be able to score just like they do."

Boyd has allowed three runs or less in each of his last eight starts, going 5-0 with a 2.38 ERA since July 9. Boyd has started twice against the White Sox this season, the only times he has faced them, without a decision and a 7.27 ERA.

He'll be tasked with stopping a two-game Detroit slide that followed a five-game winning streak as the Tigers lost to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, 5-0.

Boyd, Daniel Norris and Michael Fulmer give Detroit three young pitchers in their rotation and the trio do their workouts together, dissect their performances with one another and push one another to exceed expectations.

While those three might get pushed back in the Tigers' rotation after Thursday's day off, Wednesday's starter, Justin Verlander, is probable to pitch in turn through September.

"If the team wants me to go on regular rest," Verlander said, "I think that's a big benefit of having a guy that's been a workhorse for a long time. I'm going to be honest with Brad and tell him if I'm good to go or not.

"I'm happy to do it. As long as I feel stay feeling good, I'm good to go."

The White Sox have veteran James Shields (5-16, 5.98 ERA) set for the opener.

His ERA with Chicago is 7.49 in 15 starts but for August it's 13.95 in five outings. He's faced the Tigers three times this season, going 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA.

The right-hander has had mixed results against Detroit over the years. In 22 starts, he is 7-8 with a 4.53 ERA.

The White Sox have been looking at the future since the All-Star break, if not before.

On Friday they traded catcher Dioner Navarro to Toronto in exchange for a young minor league left-hander, Colton Turner.

The White Sox activated former Tiger Alex Avila from the disabled list but instead of backing up Navarro, Avila will be behind Omar Narvaez.

"As we talked about," Chicago GM Rick Hahn said. "Omar has done a nice job putting himself on the map playing a role here over the next few years. And this should likely give him a few more opportunities over the next four or five weeks to play on a regular basis."

Chicago will bring up a third catcher for flexibility when rosters expand but he isn't likely to get many looks.

"There are some options in the pipeline," Hahn said. "But certainly heading into this offseason, we are going to find a direction for 2017 and some answers for 2017 behind the plate."

Chicago has lefty Chris Sale lined up to face Verlander in the series closeout Wednesday.

He has thrown 120 pitches in each of his last two starts.