Though the Chicago White Sox are currently staring up at the Kansas City Royals atop the AL Central standings, it’s the Pale Hose that remain the -134 favorites to win the division at online sportsbooks. Tony LaRussa’s squad +480 also only sits behind the New York Yankees +300 on the futures odds to win the AL Pennant. Linemakers continue to be bullish on this team even though it’s gotten out to a 12-9 start to its 2021 campaign that’s barely made money for MLB bettors almost a full month into the season. While the Cleveland Indians are one of 11 AL teams to have logged 10+ wins, oddsmakers look to be much more bullish with the 2021 installment of Terry Francona’s squad evidenced by its rates of returns to win the division +700, AL +2850 and World Series +6500. The division rivals have crossed paths five times with the White Sox holding the upper hand winning three games and outscoring the Tribe by the aggregate score of 22-14; the under cashed in three times.
First pitch for the game between the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 4:05 p.m. ET from Guaranteed Rate Field. The matchup will air live on FS1. Bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
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Odds Analysis
Sitting three-games over the breakeven point heading into Tuesday night’s series opener with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago’s only managed to put $59 worth of baseball betting profit in their supporter’s pockets to this point of the season. It’s all been won at home where the team checks in 6-3 $119. It’s been a different story on the road however where Chicago only owns a series win against the Seattle Mariners after splitting a four game series in Boston and dropping three of four in Anaheim to kick off the season. That said, Tim Anderson and company are currently running hot having won six of the last seven times they took to the playing field after just sweeping the Texas Rangers. Cleveland owns losing marks against the moneyline both at home -$41 and on the road -$215. It somehow managed to just drop three of four against a Yankees team that currently can’t hit its way out of a paper bag, but then followed it up with a series opening win against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night. It’s been all about the pitching for the Indians who rank No. 8 in ERA, WHIP and strikeouts as well as No. 3 in the quality start department.
Probable Pitchers
Triston McKenzie: The youngster has all the talent in the world with his arm being one of the best in the league. Unfortunately, his control is horrendous! His 7.8 walks per nine innings tells you all you need to know about McKenzie and his inability to go deep into games. On the flipside, his 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings are elite which has those partaking in fantasy praying for the day the kid finally figures it out. The White Sox have been one of the better teams in the league at taking walks (No. 9) and not striking out (No. 5), so this will be another stiff test for the young right-handed flamethrower whose yet to go deeper than five innings in any of his previous four made starts. This will be his first career start against the White Sox after tossing two innings of scoreless relief at them last year with 3 Ks and one hit allowed.
Dallas Keuchel: The south paw’s campaign started off rough with three straight no decisions incurred after throwing 14 combined innings of 10 ER ball at the Angels, Mariners and Indians. Though he served up a total of 13 hits versus the Red Sox and Rangers in his last two starts, the veteran only allowed two runs to cross the plate; both earned. Even more important, he didn’t issue a single free pass and tallied 3 K over his 11 combined innings of work. Like his mound opponent, Keuchel hasn’t been able to go deep into games through his first five starts. His deepest outing did however just occur after giving his teammates six strong innings against Texas. Keuchel’s excelled against the Tribe throughout his career in going 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA and allowing 20 ER over 62.2 innings and nine starts.
Indians vs. White Sox Prediction
One of these days, McKenzie is going to figure it out and put it all together. Unfortunately, today won’t be that day. Chicago’s offense owns too good of a batting eye and does an excellent job of limiting strikeouts; two things that go directly against what Cleveland’s hurler excels and underperforms at. McKenzie is currently on my home league fantasy roster and I’m likely going to be benching him for this start. If he sticks to the script and issues another four walks – like he has in three of four starts – it will ultimately prove to be detrimental against a White Sox offense that owns a .280 batting average (No. 2) and .825 OPS (No. 3) with runners on base. Back Chicago both on the moneyline and run-line even though each of Keuchel’s last three starts were won by a single run with Cleveland likely forced to look to its lesser long relief arms once McKenzie prematurely reaches his pitch limit.
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