Seattle Mariners (39-37) vs. Chicago White Sox (44-30)
June 25, 2021 8:10 pm EDT
The Line: Chicago White Sox -175 / Seattle Mariners +161; Over/Under: +8
(Get latest betting odds)
The Seattle Mariners and the Chicago White Sox meet Friday in MLB action from Guaranteed Rate Field. The Mariners are coming off a pair of games versus the Rockies. Seattle won Tuesday but fell by three runs in the Wednesday matchup. As for the Sox, they played the Pirates this week. Chicago lost Tuesday but managed a tight one-run win on Wednesday. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Seattle posted a 2-1 victory over the Rockies in the Tuesday game, but came back to log a loss 5-2 on Wednesday in game two. Justus Sheffield put up 4.1 innings with four hits, three earned, three walks and five Ks in the defeat.
For the starting role in the Friday game, the Mariners will send out Yusei Kikuchi. Across his 80.2 innings this year, Kikuchi has 58 hits, 32 runs (31 earned), 13 homers allowed, 26 walks, 81 Ks and a 3.46 ERA.
Over on the White Sox’ side, they lost the the Pirates 6-3 on Tuesday but managed to bag a 4-3 win in the Wednesday matchup. Dylan Cease put up 5.2 innings with seven hits, one walk, one earned and seven strikeouts during the victory.
For the starter job on Friday, the Sox are sending out Carlos Rodon. This year Rodon is 6-2 with a 1.83 ERA and 105 strikeouts across 12 starts and 73.2 innings of work overall.
The Mariners are 5-0 in their last five games versus a lefty starter and 5-1 in their last six games overall. Seattle is 7-2 in their last nine during game one of a series and 5-0 in their last five versus a team with a winning record.
Meanwhile, the Sox are 7-2 in their last nine after an off day and 44-16 in their last 60 versus a lefty starter. Chicago is 43-16 in their last 59 home games and 1-5 in their last six overall.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the White Sox. Granted, that’s mostly due to Rodon being on the mound but he’s just 1-2 over his last seven starts. Rodon has been pitching well, but hasn’t been getting a ton of offensive support. Kikuchi has been great over his last pair (14.0 innings; one earned) and I expect him to pitch well here also. Should be an interesting starting pitcher battle, and the outcome will depend on the pens and offenses.
