The Detroit Tigers head to Chicago's North Side for a Monday night matchup at Wrigley Field, with first pitch scheduled for 8:05 PM ET on July 20. Jack Flaherty takes the ball for Detroit against Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon in what shapes up as a compelling pitching duel. For a Tigers club that has made pitching a focal point of its identity, Flaherty's ability to command the strike zone and limit damage against a deep Cubs lineup will be the storyline to watch all night. Catch the game on Detroit SportsNet or WXYT 97.1 FM.

Pitching Matchup: Flaherty vs. Taillon at Wrigley Field

Jack Flaherty is Detroit's starter Monday, making the trip to one of baseball's most storied venues. Flaherty has the repertoire to keep hitters off-balance, and a start at Wrigley — with its ivy-covered walls and unpredictable wind conditions — demands both stuff and poise. The Tigers will need him to work deep into the game and give the bullpen a breather.

Jameson Taillon counters for Chicago. A veteran right-hander with a polished four-pitch mix, Taillon is the kind of pitcher who can neutralize a lineup by working the edges and inducing weak contact. Detroit's offense will need to be disciplined and patient at the plate to crack him.

Detroit Tigers Lineup and Keys to Watch

Manager A.J. Hinch has set his lineup with Kevin McGonigle leading off at shortstop, followed by Gleyber Torres at second base. Colt Keith slots in at third, with Riley Greene hitting cleanup in left field. Dillon Dingler catches and hits fifth, Kerry Carpenter comes in as DH at sixth, Spencer Torkelson is at first base hitting seventh, Zach McKinstry plays right field and bats eighth, and James Outman rounds out the order in center.

• Riley Greene's at-bats vs. Taillon: Greene hitting cleanup puts the pressure on him to drive in runners. How he handles Taillon's secondary stuff will be a telling indicator of Detroit's offensive ceiling on the night.
• Torkelson's approach at first: Spencer Torkelson batting seventh gives the Tigers a potential power threat tucked into the bottom third of the order. Getting him into hitter's counts is key.
• Flaherty and the Cubs' middle of the order: Alex Bregman hitting cleanup for Chicago, flanked by Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ, represents a genuine run-production threat. Flaherty cannot afford to let that trio beat him with runners on base.
• McGonigle at the top: Kevin McGonigle setting the table as the leadoff man is worth monitoring. His ability to get on base puts immediate pressure on Taillon and sets the tone early.

Chicago Cubs Lineup

The Cubs counter with Pete Crow-Armstrong leading off in center, Seiya Suzuki in right, Michael Busch at first, and Alex Bregman as the designated hitter. Ian Happ plays left, Nico Hoerner is at second, Pedro Ramírez handles third, Dansby Swanson is at short, and Miguel Amaya catches. It is a balanced, experienced lineup that can hurt you in multiple ways — and Flaherty will need his best stuff to navigate it cleanly.

Prediction

This one has the feel of a low-scoring, tightly contested game that comes down to late innings. Flaherty has the ability to match Taillon pitch-for-pitch, and if Detroit's offense can manufacture a run or two in the middle frames — whether through Greene's bat or Torkelson finding a gap — the Tigers have the pitching to hold on. Expect a game decided by three runs or fewer. Tigers 3, Cubs 2.