ODDS ANALYSIS
The Rangers continue to make bettors money taking the first three games of a home-and-home series with the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers. The surprising Rangers are just 2.5 games behind the first place Astros in the AL West following their 5-3 win Wednesday in Dodger Stadium and are up 17.84 units on the moneyline this season.
The Rangers have done their damage on the road where they are the most profitable team in MLB at 21-14 after Wednesday’s win in the black 17.98 units.
The White Sox finally scored a run after 30 consecutive scoreless innings, but still dropped their sixth straight game, falling 3-2 to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. A concerning stretch considering the skid came right after the Sox three-game sweep of the AL-best Astros. Chicago starter Chris Sale was on the hill in the Sox only win during a three-game set at Texas two weeks ago and the team is 6-2 in his last eight starts in the black 2.97 units while the under is 6-1 in the last seven games he’s started.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Colby Lewis (6-3, 4.37 ERA) pitched well in Saturday’s win over the Twins, surrendering three runs on four hits over seven innings with six strikeouts. He’s 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in his past three starts, which includes a start against the White Sox in which he allowed two runs in seven innings. He’s 3-3 with a 5.27 ERA in seven road starts.
Lewis’ two career shutouts have both been thrown at U.S. Cellular Field, the last on Aug. 5, 2014, when he gave up six hits and struck out seven in a 16-0 win. He’s 2-3 with 5.13 ERA in five starts in Chicago and 6-3 with a 4.21 ERA in 12 career outings against the Sox.
Chris Sale (6-3, 3.01 ERA) lost for the first time in his last four outings after yielding just three hits and two runs with 12 strikeouts over 6.2 innings at Tampa Bay on Sunday. He became the ninth pitcher in baseball history to put together a five-game or greater streak of double-digit strikeouts with his effort and has struck out 79 and walked 10 over his last 53.1 innings.
Sale fanned 13 Rangers and gave up three hits over seven shutout innings two starts ago in a 9-2 win and is 4-2 with a 3.89 ERA striking out 46 in 44 innings over 10 career appearances against Texas.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I wish we had an answer for it. We’re not trying to dig a hole early, but that’s the way it’s been. It’s certainly something we’ve talked about and are working on. We want our guys to feel comfortable, and having to battle back each day is tough.” – White Sox pitcher John Danks on the team being severely outscored in the first inning of games.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Strange and frustrating. That pretty much sums up the 2015 season for the White Sox, who slipped to a season-worst 28-36 with a 3-2 home loss to the Pirates on Wednesday. Within four batters, Pittsburgh jumped out to a 3-0 lead, continuing a disturbing first inning trend for the Sox. Pittsburgh’s output on Wednesday raised the Sox first inning scoring deficit to 56-19. They sit at the bottom of first-inning runs allowed and scored and are left to wonder where they might be if those numbers were reversed or even. “If they knew the answer they wouldn’t be giving up runs in the first inning,” Sox manager Robin Ventura said.
PROP TALK
Not many hitters can say they own White Sox lefty Chris Sale, who holds opponents to a .207 average this season and .219 over his career. The one Texas player who’s had plenty of success against Sale might surprise you. How about Adam Rosales? Yes, Adam Rosales, who hits just .244 this season and needed a 2 for 3 outing Wednesday at LA to get there. Surprisingly, Rosales hits .500 off Sale with seven hits in 14 at bats and that includes three home runs and six RBIs. Don’t expect the Rangers to do much damage against the southpaw, but there’s a good chance Rosales will be involved if they do.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
White Sox starter Chris Sale is on a ridiculous role right now, putting up strikeout totals Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson would be proud of. Sale has been the most dominant pitcher over the last six weeks with a 1.52 ERA and 79 strikeouts over 53.1 innings of his last seven starts. You’d expect the guy to win every game with those numbers but thanks to an offense that tip-toes through most of its games, Sale is 4-2 with a no-decision in that stretch. Chicago scored a total of four runs in Sale’s two defeats and plated two in an extra-inning win with Sale not involved. The Sox should be able to scrape together a couple of runs off Colby Lewis and that’ll be all Sale needs.
Chicago 4, Texas 2
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