ODDS ANALYSIS
After knocking the Houston Astros from the top spot in the American League last week with a three-game sweep, the White Sox were feeling good, perhaps turning a corner to becoming the contending team many thought. Getting swept in Tampa Bay over the weekend was a blow to those hopes. Playing on the road is something the Sox haven’t been very good at this season, going 12-21 down 8.08 units following their sweep.
It’s hard to win four straight games when scoring eight runs total, but when you get the pitching the Pirates have, a streak like that is easy. The Bucs ended the weekend with an extra-inning shutout win over the Phillies, their third blanking in the run and four of their last five wins have been by shutout. The under is 7-0 in Pittsburgh’s last seven games and 16-12-2 at PNC Park. Charlie Morton has allowed just two runs over 14.1 innings at home while cashing the under in both starts.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Jose Quintana (3-6, 4.00 ERA) earned the win Wednesday after allowing one run and six hits in seven innings. His victory over the Astros marked his first win since May 13, covering four starts in between. He’s made six starts in which he’s worked at least seven inning and eight starts where he’s allowed two runs or less.
Quintana makes his 13th start of the year in his first appearance against the Pirates.
Charlie Morton (4-0, 2.05 ERA) won his fourth straight start since coming off the disabled list, holding the Brewers to three hits and three walks while striking out six over 7.1 scoreless innings on Wednesday. It was his longest outing since May 6, 2014 when he pitched eight innings against San Francisco.
Over 139 career games Morton has never faced the White Sox.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I just feel like I did a good job. I limited their offense and minimized damage. My sinker was moving enough and was down enough to where they were putting it on the ground. Early in games I’m thinking about things a little bit because I want to make sure I get in a groove mechanically. I want to get things straight. As the game goes on you just get more competitive and that takes over.” – Pirates’ Charlie Morton after 7.1 shutout innings Wednesday.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Pirates completed their sweep of the Phillies with a 1-0 extra inning win on Sunday for their fourth straight victory. During the run the Bucs have scored a total of eight runs but when your pitching is as good as Pittsburgh’s, you get wins. The Pirates have three shutouts in the four games and allowed three runs in the other game, dropping their team ERA to 2.83, second-best in the majors, with Gerrit Cole and A.J. Burnett the ERA leaders in the National League. Charlie Morton has helped bring the staff ERA down by giving up just six earned runs in his first four starts off the DL for a 2.05 ERA.
PROP TALK
The hottest hitter in the Pirates lineup isn’t superstar Andrew McCutchen rather left fielder Starling Marte. It’s tough for a regular to raise his batting average 20 points in a three-game span two months into the season, but Marte did just that with a trio of three-hit games over the weekend. Marte drove in the winning run with a 13th-inning single in Friday’s 1-0 win over the Phillies and extended his hitting streak to five games with two singles and a double Sunday. Marte entered the weekend series hitting .251 and ended at .273 while driving in six of the Bucs’ 16 runs over the last eight games.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Pittsburgh’s staff has been dealing recently, overshadowing the offensive difficulties the team has been having. But a win’s a win. Now the Buccos formidable staff gets a White Sox team that ranks near the bottom in runs, average, home runs and OPS. Pirates’ starter Charlie Morton has been great in his return from the DL winning each of his four starts and they probably won’t need much offensively to knock off the Sox. Playing in a National League park the Sox don’t have the DH in their lineup which will make them even less potent.
Pittsburgh 4, Chicago 2
The MLB odds for this game will be available first at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, individual inning run totals and next hitter results. Log in and start gambling during the game now!
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 Pittsburgh Pirates is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at 7:05 p.m. ET at PNC Park. The game will be televised live on CSN and ROOT Sports.
