The Chicago White Sox will play host to the Texas Rangers at Guaranteed Rate Field. WGN will broadcast this AL showdown and the first pitch will be at 2:10 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox Odds
Chicago (+100) is coming into this one as the underdog against Texas (-110) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this day game at 9.5 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). You can also bet on the games runline with the current odds sitting at +135 for the Rangers -1.5 runs and -155 for the White Sox +1.5.
The Rangers are 18-29 SU and are 19-27 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 3.0 units for moneyline bettors over the early part of the year and 11.8 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The White Sox, on the other hand, are 12-30 SU and 20-21 ATS. They’ve lost 16.8 units for moneyline bettors and 5.3 units ATS. Chicago has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven.
Chicago games have a 20-19-2 over/under record so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 23-20-3.
The southpaw Mike Minor will get the nod for Texas. Minor is 3-2 with a 5.61 ERA and 37 strikeouts. He has yet to face the White Sox this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The White Sox will send righty Reynaldo Lopez (0-3, 3.50 ERA) to the hill. Lopez has 31 strikeouts and 21 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.27 WHIP. Lopez only made one start against the Rangers in 2017 (0-1, 12.46 ERA and six strikeouts across 4.1 innings).
As a unit, Chicago’s pitching staff has allowed 5.7 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 5.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.45 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
The Chicago offense has produced 3.9 runs per contest, including 3.8 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over its last five. The teams hit .237/.303/.355 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The White Sox hitters have been led by right fielder Trayce Thompson and first baseman Jose Abreu. Thompson is hitting .107/.138/.286 with six hits, three RBIs and nine runs scored, and Abreu is hitting .306 with eight homers, 25 RBIs and 24 runs.
Abreu enjoyed hitting against lefties in 2017, slashing .356/.402/.631 over 164 plate appearances (compared to his overall season line of .304/.354/.552).
In the other dugout, Texas pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.12 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 7.14 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.09, along with a K/9 of 8.18.
The Rangers offense has slashed .229/.302/.384 on its way to 4.1 runs scored per game this year, including 4.2 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 6.0 per game over the teams last five outings (2-3 SU).
Texas hitters have been led by Nomar Mazara and Shin-soo Choo, who collectively have swatted 16 home runs. Mazara is slashing .282/.339/.514 with 10 home runs, 27 RBIs and 27 runs scored, while Choo (.251/.332/.402) has produced six homers, 21 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
Maintaining a slash line of .206/.276/.360 across 301 plate appearances, Mazara did not do as well batting on the road last year (his overall season line was .253/.323/.422).
The Rangers have gained 0.4 units and are 15-18 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 16 of those games, compared to 16 that’ve gone under against righty starters. On the other hand, the White Sox have lost 6.0 units and are 4-6 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has cashed in seven of those games, compared to three that went under.
Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – White Sox, ATS Winner – White Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The Rangers have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The White Sox have hit nine over their last 10.
- The Texas defense has allowed 12 errors over the last 10 games, compared to six errors for Chicago over its last 10.
