The Chicago White Sox enter the 2021 MLB betting season with high hopes even though it just lost a major producer in the form of Eloy Jimenez for a bulk of the year. Only the Padres +800, Yankees +550 and Dodgers +350 have shorter odds than the South Siders +850 to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy. Pretty impressive for a team that finished third in the AL Central a season ago! On top of that, it’ll be breaking in a new manager though Tony LaRussa has proven numerous times he’s capable of handling a roster and leading it deep into the postseason. The first full year of the Joe Maddon regime kicks off this season with the Los Angeles Angels looking to compete with the Oakland A’s and Houston Astros for AL West supremacy. Linemakers at online sportsbooks currently have them pegged for a third place finish in the division with the Mariners and Rangers well off the pace. This extended four-game series will close out under the watchful eye of a nationally televised audience with Dylan Cease set to square off against Shohei Ohtani.
First pitch for this American League skirmish between the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels is scheduled for Sunday, April 4, 2021, at 8:37 p.m. ET from Angel Stadium of Anaheim. This week’s Sunday Night Baseball telecast will air live on ESPN. Bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
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Odds Analysis
The Angels were dreadful in Joe Maddon’s managerial debut throughout the abbreviated 2020 season. The team struggled to the tune of a 26-34 overall record that dented bank rolls to the tune of -$995 overall! LA was a losing proposition both at home 15-15, -270 and especially on the road where it finished eight-games under the breakeven point to cost those that backed them upwards of $700. Chicago was one of only 15 teams that made money for MLB bettors over the course of the regular season by way of posting winning records both at home 18-12 and on the road 17-13. These teams didn’t square off last season. LA has dominated the rivalry in taking eight of the last 10 matchups. It’s also taken seven of the last 10 meetings at “The Big A” where the over has cashed in six straight times with an average of 12.3 runs scored per game.
Probable Pitchers
Dylan Cease: A look under Cease’s hood will have many an MLB bettor looking to fade him in his debut on Sunday night. Through 12 starts last season, Cease surrendered 50 hits and only struck out 44 through 58.1 total innings. Most alarming was the 34 issued walks. The end result was a 4.01 ERA and bloated 1.44 WHIP that amounted to a 5-4 overall record. Still, he limited all opposition to a .234 BAA and only served up 12 long balls. He’s dealt with a lot of traffic on the base paths throughout Spring Training, but limited the damage with his 99 MPH fastball and nasty slider. I have high hopes for this youngster in 2021 and believe he’ll contribute immensely to the Pale Hose body of work throughout the regular season and beyond.
Shohei Ohtani: Should the blister Ohtani-San developed earlier in the week be a non-issue, the Halos prized possession will make his starting debut under the light of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. As exciting that is, I’m still left scratching my head as to why Los Angeles continues to trot him out to the bump. He hasn’t been a very effective pitcher at the big league level, but has shown time and time again that he swings one of the more lethal bats in the game. Just let him concentrate on mashing baseballs; only! Regardless, Ohtani made all of two starts last season and lasted a grand total of 1.2 innings; due to ineffectiveness and injury. I doubt he’ll be long for this one against a White Sox offense looking to put on a show with the world looking on.
White Sox vs. Angels Prediction
Should Cease get the start, he’s going to have his hands full with the top of the Halos’ order. Fletcher, Trout and Rendon represent as nasty a top of the order combo as there is in the league! After that however, it gets much easier. The same can’t and won’t be said for Ohtani with the White Sox batting order 1-9 as nasty a unit as there is right now. With that, look for Tim Anderson and company to set the tone early on by scratching across a few runs. Cease pitching with a lead will only allow for him to settle in nicely. Look for a quality effort from the youngster that’s capped off with a win after Liam Hendricks and the bullpen bring the win on home.
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