ODDS ANALYSIS
The White Sox will look for a better showing at Target Field than their previous visit. The Sox were swept in a four-game series at Minnesota in early May being outscored 31-8 and finishing 4.58 units in the red.
It was so bad for the Sox ace Chris Sale was clubbed in a 12-2 loss. The Sox held their own in the other six games gaining a split of the contests played in Chicago. The Sox have lost six straight on the road and are a bad play down 10.08 units with their 12-23 record away from U.S. Cellular Field.
The Twins get a taste of Chicago baseball after watching the Cubs leave town following a weekend set and welcoming the Sox. Following their 20-win month of May, the Twins stumbled in June but a two-game sweep of the Cardinals made their 6-11 start to the month feel a little better. The Twins remain a strong moneyline play, especially at home where they improved to 22-12 in the black 12.26 units after knocking off the best team in baseball in two straight.
PITCHING MATCHUP
John Danks (3-7, 5.16 ERA) allowed three first inning runs to the Pirates on Wednesday before settling down with six scoreless frames after that. The deficit was too large for the Sox to overcome though and he was tagged with the loss after giving up five hits, including a home run.
Danks had an odd line in his only start this season against the Twins giving up seven runs, only three of which were earned, on eight hits in 2.1 innings in a 13-3 loss on May 3. He’s faced the Twins more than any team going 7-14 with a 5.67 ERA in 28 career starts.
Tommy Milone (3-1, 3.67 ERA) was sharp against the Cardinals on Wednesday, allowing just one run on five hits over seven innings to get his first win since April 16. He has a 2.37 ERA in three starts since rejoining the rotation.
Milone tossed shutout ball for 7.2 innings giving up just two hits with seven strikeouts in a 6-0 win over the White Sox on Apr. 10. He’s been dominant in his career against the Sox going 2-0 with a 1.39 ERA and 0.80 WHIP over 32.1 innings of five starts.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“We feel like we can play with anybody on any given day. This series proved that. These guys [the Cardinals] have the best record, but all four games, we were in them and had a chance to win. So I think we know that in here and have to just keep playing hard.” – Joe Mauer after the Twins split a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Joe Mauer and Kennys Vargas are a major part of the Twins lineup and a big reason why the Twins are pushing the Royals for the top spot in the AL Central. But it’s not secret the two are struggling and getting them back on track likely means more wins for the surprising Twins. Entering Thursday’s game against the Cardinals, Mauer was hitting just .179 with three extra base hits in June while Vargas was hitting just .130 with nothing but singles this month. But they both came up big when it mattered most. Mauer tied the game with a homer in the eighth and Vargas walked off with a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth for the 2-1 win. “It was a couple big moments for guys looking to hopefully get jumpstarted,” manager Paul Molitor said.
PROP TALK
Twins starter Tommy Milone has done it once this season and the White Sox are showing no reason why he can’t do it again. What did he do? He blanked the Sox on two hits over 7.2 innings back on Apr. 10 in what is his longest outing of the year. It’s also the only game in which he didn’t give up a run. The Sox meanwhile had a stretch of four straight games last week where the lineup had four hits or fewer, a first in the franchise’s history. It hasn’t been a good year offensively for the Sox, who are last in the AL in runs scored and home runs and next to last in hitting. Milone enters this game feeling good about his chances against a team that hits .168 against him with only 19 hits in 32.1 innings.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The White Sox and Seattle Mariners are pillow fighting for last place in nearly every offensive category in the American League. At this point in the season it’s no longer a slump, it’s your team. And the Sox are a weak hitting club. Sure they have their moments, but the numbers spell it out for us. The Twins are hanging around in the division and need to win games against the last place Sox if they are to be considered contenders. We still don’t think they have a shot at the division or a wild card spot, but they are making it interesting. We’ve already seen three managers lose their job and if things don’t improve, bet on Robin Ventura being the fourth.
Minnesota 5, Chicago 1
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 Monday, June 22, 2015, at 8:10 p.m. ET at Target Field. The matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
