In the first battle over the city of Chicago this season, the Cubs (46-27, $518) will host the White Sox (37-44, -$857) as each team enters having played solid ball of late.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Despite sitting in last place in the AL Central, seven games under .500, the Sox have won five of their last seven games heading into Wednesday and though the offense remains inconsistent at best, the pitching has generally picked up the slack.
Technically a road game, the White Sox will look to improve their abysmal 16-27 road record, but they will get to stay in the city of Chicago where they are 21-17.
The Cubs have won four of their last five games and seven of their last nine as they, too, are on a roll. Of course, they get home field advantage and are an impressive 24-17 at Wrigley. They also have the edge as they are better playing day games though they are only 16-15. While not overly impressive, that mark is still better than the Sox’s 14-21 mark.
PITCHING MATCHUP
A pair of youngsters will take the bump in this series opener with Carlos Rondon squaring off against Kyle Hendricks.
Hendricks, obviously, has a bit more experience. The 25-year old right-hander debuted last year with a 2.46 ERA in 80 1/3 innings. He’s already eclipsed that innings count this year with 92 and while not exactly consistent, has put up solid numbers, going 4-4 with a 3.82 ERA and 1.152 WHIP over his 16 starts.
He is coming off a win in his second game extending into the eighth, holding the Marlins scoreless in seven and a third innings. Over his last two starts, he’s allowed only one run, though he allowed 10 earned in his previous two, struggling against both the Twins and the Dodgers.
Rondon, unlike Hendricks, is coming off a rough start as the 22-year old rookie southpaw allowed four runs—three earned—to the Orioles on July 5. He did strike out seven, but his pitch count was inflated thanks to four walks.
In general, walks have been an issue for the youngster who has a tendency to lose the plate. He’s walking 5.2 batters per nine innings, helping lead to a bloated 1.641 WHIP.
Despite the high number of base runners, Rondon’s ERA is just 4.18 in his 60 1/3 innings thanks to his dominating stuff.
In this match up, Rondon has the superior stuff, but has yet to show control over it while Hendricks is a bit more polished and is currently pitching at the top of his game.
QUOTE TO NOTE
The White Sox had been going well heading into Rondon’s last start when he allowed the Orioles to get ahead early. Chicago proceeded to lose 9-1. Manager Robin Ventura spoke after the game, putting the blame on the offense, saying:
“You know, it’s tough to win 2-1 every night. We’re going to have to start putting up some crooked numbers in the run column to be able to sustain anything.”
LIVE/SITUATIONAL BETTING
Putting up much of anything in the run column has been difficult for the ChiSox all year. They’re dead last in all of baseball in scoring with just 3.41 runs per nine innings.
Of course, it is particularly hard to score when nearly everyone on your team is underperforming.
The only real threat on the roster is Jose Abreu who somehow is hitting .292 with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs despite no support. Outside of him, Adam LaRoche has hit nine home runs, but is hitting just .225, yet he is arguably the next best offensive producer.
The team has gotten nothing out of second base. Carlos Sanchez is starting there now despite a .166 average and eight of the 11 players on the team with at least 100 at bats are hitting below .250.
Even with the Sox playing better baseball, the offense has slumped. The team’s plated just a single run in three of their last five games.
The Cubs haven’t been a powerhouse offensively themselves either, but have been better than the White Sox.
The North Siders are starting to come out of an offensive slump. They’ve failed to score much over the last couple weeks, but have scored 12 runs combined in their last two games.
Newly named All-Stars Anthony Rizzo (.953 OPS) and Kris Bryant (.852 OPS) lead the way, but Jorge Soler’s (.717 OPS) return helps add depth to the order along with a number of capable bats, including Chris Denorfia (.770 OPS).
PROP TALK
Neither of these starters have any experience against the opposing team’s players.
Nevertheless, look for Rizzo to have a big game against Rondon. While Rizzo is a lefty, he’s hit southpaws really well this year with a .338 average and .978 OPS. His power numbers are better versus righties, but he puts together good at bats against lefties.
He has struggled of late, but a young inexperienced pitcher could be what he needs to turn things back around.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Hendricks is pitching better right now than Rondon. This analysis really is as simple as that, though the Cubs have also appeared to be coming out of their offensive funk while the White Sox have been mired in theirs all year with no end in sight.
Cubs 6, White Sox 3
BookMaker will be the first online sportsbook to send out the baseball odds for this marquee matchup. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, player props and inning totals. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem, BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The ballgame between the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs will take place Friday, July 10, 2015, at 4:05 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field.
