Why is the Tigers-White Sox Game Time Changed on Saturday? When Will it Start?

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Why did the Tigers-White Sox game time change Saturday? Inclement weather moved first pitch up five hours. Here’s the new start time.

The Chicago White Sox announced a change to Saturday’s start time for their game against the Detroit Tigers, pushing first pitch up five hours from 6:10 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. CT at Rate Field. Storms predicted to roll through Chicago left the club little choice.

Parking lots open at 11:10 a.m. and gates follow at 11:40 a.m. Tickets bought for the original night game, including prepaid parking, Stadium Club and Patio Pass add-ons, carry over to the afternoon slot. No exchange required. Sox Crawl ticket holders get a separate notice from the club. Chicago Sports Network and ESPN Chicago Radio still carry the broadcast.

White Sox Move Sean Burke’s Start Amid Storm Threat

Showers and thunderstorms are expected mainly before 1 p.m., according to the National Weather Service, with storms likely to linger through the afternoon and a high near 76. Winds run 10 to 15 mph out of the southeast before shifting south, and the chance of precipitation sits at 90 percent, with three-quarters of an inch to an inch of rain possible during the day.

The system doesn’t quit at sundown. Another 1 to 2 inches could fall Saturday night, with an 80 percent chance of storms returning after 10 p.m. A flood watch covers the area into Saturday afternoon, tied to the risk of flash flooding from heavy rain rates. Moving first pitch to early afternoon gives both teams a real shot at getting nine innings in before the second wave arrives.

Sunday doesn’t clear up much, either. The forecast calls for showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, with a high near 68 and breezy wind gusting as high as 30 mph.

Where White Sox, Tigers Stand in Playoff Race

Chicago sits at 78-75, tied with Cleveland atop the American League Central, according to a Reuters report on the division race. The White Sox hold the season-series tiebreaker over Cleveland, which would hand them the division title and a first-round bye as the No. 2 AL seed if the season ended today. Chicago remains alive in the wild-card race as well.

Detroit’s outlook points the other way. The Tigers sit at 72-81, third in the division and six games behind the White Sox and Guardians, according to USA Today’s playoff standings tracker. Detroit is also six games back of the final AL wild-card spot with nine games remaining after Thursday. Multiple outlets list the Tigers’ postseason odds below 1 percent.

Detroit sends right-hander Jackson Jobe to the mound Saturday. Jobe carries a 2-2 record, a 3.89 ERA and 34 strikeouts across 34 2/3 innings, according to MLB.com’s official probable pitchers. Chicago counters with Sean Burke, who owns a 9-7 mark, a 3.47 ERA and 173 strikeouts on the season. Both matchups were set before the time change and remain subject to shift depending on how the club manages the earlier start.

Sunday’s series finale stays on its original clock, at least so far, with first pitch at 1:10 p.m. CT. Troy Melton takes the ball for Detroit against Davis Martin for Chicago to close out the four-game series at Rate Field.

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