It’s early, but this weekend series is a major litmus test for both the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins with each getting off to inauspicious starts at online sportsbooks. The Palehose just got swept in a doubleheader by the AL Central leading Cleveland Indians earlier in the week, while the Twins are yet to log a series win after dropping two straight to the rival Kansas City Royals. Both squads will look to rectify their respective situations on Saturday afternoon in the second game of this three game set with Vince Velasquez set to square off against what looks to be a rejuvenated Dylan Bundy. A deeper inspection of Bundy’s body of work to date tells me it’s only a matter of time until he gets blown up. I expect Luis Robert and Co. to be the match that ignites the flame. Look for both offenses to have a field day in this one which leads to some runs hitting the board early and late.
First pitch for the AL Central tilt between the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins is scheduled for Saturday, April 23, 2022. Take it in live on FS1 at 4:05 p.m. ET from Target Field. Bet on MLB odds and player props at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
MLB Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
By getting swept in Wednesday’s DH versus the Guardians, Chicago fell to a ho hum 6-5 for the year which has cost MLB bettors a whopping $7. In doing so, they fell to 2-3 on the road -$66. Even so, Tony LaRussa’s squad is still the decided -250 favorite to cruise to the division pennant. We’re yet to see the best this team has to offer with guys like Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, and Yoan Moncada yet to make an appearance. As for Minnesota, it dropped a second straight to the Royals on Wednesday to fall to 4-8 overall which makes them one of the worst bets in baseball to this point of the season -$430. More than half that deficit has been accrued at home where the team stands 2-4 overall and down $245 overall. Like Chicago, it’s dealing with some bothersome injuries as well with Byron Buxton once again on the IL along with Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda, and Alex Kirilloff.
Probable Pitchers
Vince Velasquez R: Just how desperate are the White Sox to trot this right-handed gas can onto the bump every fifth day? That’s a rhetorical question. Bottom line, they’re desperate! At one point in time, Velasquez was pegged as an up and coming fireballer that had the stuff to rack up nearly 10 strikeouts an outing. Unfortunately, his control has gotten the best of him evidenced by a career 3.7 BB/9 average. That figure is up to 6.6 through two starts, and it’s the main reason why he’s failed to pitch through the first five innings in both. I don’t expect that trend to change in this one either considering Minnesota ranks out as one of the more patient teams in the league having logged 44 walks through 379 at-bats No. 9.
Dylan Bundy R: The Twins have won Bundy’s first two starts. The first outing saw him spin five innings of shutout ball against the Seattle Mariners, and it was followed up with 5.1 innings of 1 ER ball against the Boston Red Sox. He logged an 8:1 K/BB ratio and averaged just 13.3 pitches per inning. Though Chicago has gotten out to a rough start offensively and Bundy’s dominated them over the course of his career 4-0, I’m not buying into his hot start. His fastball is down 2.5 mph from his career outputs, and his off-speed stuff hasn’t been churning like it normally does either. Should he fail to go six a third straight time, Chicago will get the benefit of running up against a Twins bullpen that’s been nothing short of an unmitigated disaster No. 29.
White Sox vs. Twins Prediction
Josh Harrison and Eloy Jimenez are banged up right now. Make it a point to check the injury reports and batting lineups to see if each will be able to give it a go for this one. Should that be the case, I’d feel much better about taking stabs on the over in the first five innings as well as the full game. After getting embarrassed in Cleveland, the White Sox will have some pent up aggression they’ll be looking to uncork. If Minnesota can’t find a way to get to Velasquez, shame on them! Either way, look for the scoreboard operators to be busy early and often.
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