After winning five of the first nine head-to-head meetings against the Chicago White Sox (31-40, -$1,189), the Detroit Tigers (37-35, -$31) will look to improve their advantage over the Sox in a four game series, concluding with a Sunday afternoon showdown.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Chicago has won three of its last five following an eight game losing streak that has all but buried the White Sox in the AL Central standings.
Of course, Detroit has been anything but consistent this year themselves while they have their own eight game losing streak this season, they’ve won three of their last four games and are once again climbing up the standings.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The pitching matchup in this series finale figures to be a good one as Jeff Samardzija and David Price toe the rubber for their respective teams.
Samardzija was acquired by the White Sox to be a strong number two pitcher behind Chris Sale, but has not quite lived up to expectations, going just 5-4 with a 4.53 ERA and 1.332 WHIP. He has, however, been a bulldog, throwing 101 1/3 innings.
The first inning has been rough for the 30-year old right-hander as he has allowed 52 runs this season, 19 of which have come in the first inning.
If he is able to get out of the first unscathed, he should have a good outing. After all, in his last start he allowed a homer in the first to the Twins, but settled down to throw a quality start, his third in a row.
While Samardzija has pitched reasonably well in his last few outings, Price has done one better, throwing to a 1.21 ERA in his last four starts.
Overall, the 29-year old southpaw has been every bit the ace the Tigers thought they were getting when they acquired him last year.
The lefty is 7-2 with a 2.42 ERA and 1.125 WHIP through 104 innings of work. He also has three complete games to his name and hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his last seven starts.
QUOTE TO NOTE
David Price had a good outing his last time out, but he was not impressed, saying:
“I wasn’t as good tonight, but you’re not always going to have your best stuff. That’s when you’ve got to go out there and kind of lock it in, because that’s when it’s not easy. Tonight was by no means easy.”
LIVE/SITUATIONAL BETTING
It should be a bit easier for Price on Sunday; at least the opposition should be as the White Sox have scored fewer runs this year than anyone else in baseball with just 241 runs.
Fans of the Palehose have been waiting for the offense to break out, but as the year has progressed the offense has not. They’re still at the bottom of the league in scoring for the month of June with 62 runs.
The team has the names to be better than they are, but those names aren’t producing. Avisail Garcia was doing well early, but has a .141 average here in June. Alexei Ramirez is hitting just .220 for the year.
In addition, Melky Cabrera—although showing flashes—is getting on base less than 29 percent of the time while Adam Eaton has just a .316 OBP, though over his last 21 games that number is up to .374.
While Eaton is heating up, there are still very few players to drive him in. Jose Abreu (.837 OPS) and Adam LaRoche (.751 OPS) are the only players on the team—regulars or otherwise—that have an OPS of .695 or better.
While the Sox are struggling, the Tigers offense is finally putting it all together. They have scored 96 runs in just 20 games this June and are amongst the top third in scoring all season.
Victor Martinez’s return has helped strengthen the lineup adding to the power of Miguel Cabrera (1.045 OPS), J.D Martinez (17 HRs) and Yoenis Cespedes (33 extra base hits). Along with the on-base skills of Jose Iglesias (.377 OPB) and Ian Kinsler (.333 OBP), this team now has a core group of six bats as good as nearly any team.
PROP TALK
It’s a tough matchup for everyone against Price, though Adam Eaton with his hot bat may not be a bad pick if looking for someone to get a hit.
The scrappy center fielder is 7 for 16 lifetime against the southpaw.
Cespedes, meanwhile, has hit Samardzija well, going 4 for 10 with a pair of home runs and three RBIs. Need a home run? Few have as much power as Cespedes.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
One of the league’s top-10 offenses, one of the true aces in the game and a team with range up the middle and just 34 total errors should get the win over a White Sox team that has scored fewer runs than anyone else and has a pitcher prone to giving an early lead to the opposition.
Detroit 6, Chicago 2
The MLB odds for this game will be available first at BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! First pitch for the game between the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers is scheduled for Sunday, June 28, 2015, at 1:08 p.m. ET at Comerica Park. The game will be televised live on WGN.
