ODDS ANALYSIS
The White Sox had hopes of contending in the AL Central, if not for the division title at least for a wild card spot. So far things haven’t panned out – but it’s still early. However the Sox have shown no indication of being even a .500 team at this point.
The pitching hasn’t been as expected and the Sox are woeful offensively. The team has cashed the under five times with a push in its last six games when fans attended – they hit the over Wednesday in an 8-2 loss at Baltimore in a closed stadium.
For the season the under is 10-7-1 and the Sox are down 8.18 units on the runline. The Sox went 4-2 on a recent six-game homestand but road troubles continue to plague them with a 7-19 record in their last 26 away games.
Not given a chance at competing for a playoff spot things haven’t been all bad for the Twinkies at the start of the season. They aren’t a playoff team but they have been more competitive than many thought. The Twins actually have one more win than Chicago entering their four-game set but trail with a few more losses. They’re fairly even across the betting board down 0.87 units on the moneyline and 1.02 units on the runline. The Twins have split the total at 10-10-1 through 21 games but they’ve cashed the over 10 times in Trevor May’s last 12 starts and the over is 9-2 in the last 11 head-to-head meetings.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Chicago’s Chris Sale (1-0, 2.37 ERA) is able to make his scheduled start while appealing his five-game suspension stemming from his part in Thursday’s on-field fracas with the Royals. He allowed two runs on nine hits in seven innings before getting ejected in Chicago’s 13-inning loss.
Sale is 4-0 with a 2.88 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 34.1 innings in his last five starts against the Twins after giving up one run and striking out eight in six innings of a 6-2 victory Apr. 12.
Minnesota’s Trevor May (1-1, 4.91 ERA) lasted just 3.1 innings in his last start on Saturday in Seattle after taking a Kyle Seager line drive off his right forearm. He threw Monday without issues and was cleared to resume his spot in the rotation.
May won his first two career starts against the White Sox with both coming last season. He struck out a career-high 10 Sox hitters in six innings in a 6-4 win on Sep. 14 and allowed 11 hits with one walk and 16 K’s with a 4.91 ERA over 11 innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I think it was such a surreal experience that you get past it and get ready for tomorrow. There wasn’t much going on. Again it was just a surreal environment and I don’t think we really want to play another one like this.” – White Sox manager Robin Ventura after Wednesday’s closed game in Baltimore
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Even though the White Sox are last in the AL in runs scored they have an opportunity Thursday against Twins starter Trevor May to test him early. May took a line drive off his right forearm in his last start and, although he’s been medically cleared to play, he’s got to be a little tentative on the bump facing live action. Chicago’s two biggest threats with the stick hit second and third in the order so Melky Cabrera and Jose Abreu will get their whacks against May right from the get go. You have to figure the Sox are well rested also after having two games postponed in Baltimore and playing third in front of nobody.
PROP TALK
Chicago’s Jose Abreu, last year’s AL Rookie of the Year, has been the only consistent stick in the Sox order so far this season and it’s amazing to see the guy hitting around .300 with five home runs and 14 RBIs, all team highs. He hasn’t had much support and its surprising he gets pitched to with Adam LaRoche, Adam Eaton and Alexei Ramirez all tickling the Mendoza Line. When those guys start hitting, along with Melky Cabrera, Abreu will be even more dangerous in the middle of the order. For now he’s doing it on his own and doing a helluva job. Abreu had 14 hits with three homers during an eight-game hit streak that came to an end Wednesday. We like the slugger to start a new streak Thursday.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The White Sox are still waiting for their bats to awaken from winter hibernation. The Sox are last in the AL in runs scored and hit just .236 as a team. The pitching has been a little better, but not much. The Sox took the final two of a spirited three-game set from Kansas City but had any momentum from those wins doused with a pair of postponed games in Baltimore as teams were concerned for their safety following several days of civil unrest. There will be heavy juice on the Sox with Chris Sale, who has dominated the Twins recently, on the hill and we’ll back him.
A seven-run outburst Wednesday wasn’t enough to get the Twins a series win over the Central leading Tigers now the Twins face the ace of the Sox staff in lefty Chris Sale in the opener of a four-game set. Even with their offensive exploits against the Tigers the Twins are only slightly better than Chicago in the runs scored department and they don’t have an ace on the hill. It’s hard to go against the Sox with Sale throwing in this one.
Chicago 6, Minnesota 2
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by 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!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Chicago White Sox versus the Minnesota Twins will commence Thursday, April 30, 2015, at 8:10 p.m. ET at Target Field. The matchup can be seen live on Comcast Sports Chicago and FOX Sports North.
