The trade deadline is next Tuesday baseball fans! We steam into Thursday with the Chicago White Sox home to the Cleveland Guardians. So, while these two teams are not the elite of the American League, this could be an intriguing game nonetheless. Now, the White Sox are currently 20 under .500 in what has been a nightmare campaign. Now, VegasBetting drops in with the Guardians vs White Sox Betting Picks.
Can the Cleveland Guardians find a way to notch a win on the road in Chicago?
This AL Central clashes can be ugly. Please understand that this is a short slate. Examining the starting pitching gifts us a solid battle between Tanner Bibee and Dylan Cease. Chicago has been decent at home and but Cease has only one win in Chicago all season. Worse, his strikeout rates are lower and his wildness is higher. With good reason the Guardians vs White Sox Picks tilt toward the Guardians even despite their road record which is under .500.
The splits tilt slightly toward Cleveland here. Chicago is 21-26 at home while the Guardians are 23-26 on the road at press time. Temperatures figure to be moderate with lots of humidity A slight breeze will be coming off Lake Michigan on Thursday night. Guaranteed Rate Field may see fewer runs than normal. MLB Vegas Online Betting Odds are intrigued by the possibility of a lower-scoring contest this night.
These two teams allow their opponents to 9.1 runs combined a contest. Fortunately for us, that 5.0 number for Chicago is misleading consider they yield closer to four runs a game at home. Cleveland allows only 4.1 runs per game themselves. That ranks fourth in Major League Baseball. The Guardians score about the same offensively at a 4.2 clip. Chicago produces at the same rate offensively as Cleveland on average.
Bettors enjoy the BetOnline online Sportsbook review, as the Under of 8.5 runs stayed around -115. If one thought early movement was possible, it has not surfaced yet. There may be a temptation to go Under 7.5 at +115.
Okay, the Guardians vs White Sox Betting Picks talk about humid conditions from Chicago on Thursday. Sadly, the Chicago White Sox’ best pitcher has been anything but lucky at home this season. We mentioned the one win and two losses. However, with OPS at 66 points higher and a strikeout rate not that north of nine, bettors should be hesitant when it comes to Chicago. Yes, Cease may be traded and could be feeling the pressure.
There lies no such risk with Tanner Bibee. A recurring theme with pitchers is seeing a lot of them right around .500. Bibee is 6-5 but his numbers are better than they appear. The rookie has only 15 starts this season, but the Guardians’ pitcher has managed a 6-2 record and 85 strikeouts in 83 innings. Even more encouraging is the rookie does not appear flustered in the worst of situations.
Numbers do not lie and yes this rookie pitcher is on the AL Rookie Of The Year radar. Even the Cleveland Guardians improved a little over the past ten games (6-4). Also, some experts believe the Guardians can overtake the Twins to win the AL Central crown. This is not hard given that Minnesota cannot stay much above .500 themselves. It is a funny thing how the Central has kind of sputtered once again in 2023.
With the MLB Trade Deadline mere days away, expect even more mistakes with lines. Again, it becomes about feasting on certain lines while remaining sensible. There is that runline which seems to tilt to the Mets favor. New York can win this game by two or more runs even thought the White Sox bullpen have potential to give up runs. That +155 runline is reasonable given how Chicago keeps finding ways to lose.
With chances for fewer runs, sneaking up on the under in the Guardians vs White Sox Betting Picks is not a crazy wager. Some pundits feel that this game is tailor-made for a Chicago win. Chicago is set up as a very slight favorite because Cease is the more experienced pitcher. Unfortunately, form suggests Bibee and the Cleveland bullpen as safer bets on Thursday.
Again, Chicago ranks 29th with their bullpen. Even with striking out the most batters in the majors, their pitching cannot keep the score down enough. The White Sox give up runs at the worst possible times. It is something Cleveland is less guilty of doing. Cleveland beats the teams they are supposed to for the most part. After all, this was a team that went 13-6 against Minnesota for example last year and is 4-3 this year.
That number against Chicago is just as good. Again, beating the teams needed is necessary. Meanwhile, the White Sox cannot get out of their own way versus the AL Central. Stats scare even some small-minded bettors, but they do slightly side with Cleveland. This could be a lower scoring game especially if the wind stays blowing in like the forecast dictates on Thursday.
MLB Online Vegas Betting Sites keep saying the White Sox are too dangerous of a favorite. Yes, that is true. With Chicago being a difficult wager, a lesser bet or two on Cleveland is a bit more prudent here.
Summary
Chris Wassel is a skilled scribe who possesses a fervor for both sports and entertainment. Boasting a journalism background and over two decades of experience, he has crafted pieces that encompass a diverse array of sports including hockey, basketball, football, and others. His writing is characterized by its lucidity and sharpness, and provides a unique viewpoint on entertainment and political matters. While Chris primarily focuses on sports writing, he also writes about a wide range of subjects.