The Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox meet Thursday in MLB action from Guaranteed Rate Field. Here’s a Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction. This will be the first installment in a four-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview
The Guardians are fresh off a home series versus the Detroit Tigers. Cleveland won the first installment of that set 2-1, then fell 11-7 in game two. In the rubber match on Wednesday, the Guardians eked out a 5-4 win in 10 innings. Starter Tanner Bibee lasted 4.0 innings with four earned on five hits and no walks.
In the starting pitcher role for the Thursday opener, the Guardians will send out Ben Lively. This year Lively is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts. He’s got 24 Ks in 21.2 innings of work. Lively is 9-18 with a 4.77 ERA in 49 career games (36 starts). The Guardians will play against the Rangers and Twins following this series.
Chicago White Sox Betting Preview
Over on the White Sox’ side, they played the Tampa Bay Rays in their last set. On Monday Chicago lost 8-2, then took a 5-1 defeat in game two. In the Wednesday matchup, the White Sox scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings in a 4-1 win. Chris Flexen went 6.0 innings in the start with one earned on three hits and a walk.
It’ll be Erick Fedde in the starting pitcher role for the White Sox on Thursday. This year over his seven starts Fedde is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA and 41 Ks in 39.0 total frames. Fedde has a career record of 23-33 with a 5.25 ERA in 109 games (95 starts). The White Sox will meet the Nationals and Yankees after this series.
Guardians vs White Sox Injury Notes
Guardians RP Eli Morgan (shoulder) made his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday.
Why the Chicago White Sox will win
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Erick Fedde Record this season: 2-0 ERA: 3.46
- The Guardians have lost five of their last six games as favorites against the White Sox following a home win.
- The home team has won four of the Guardians’ last five games.
- The Guardians have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight games as favorites after going to extra innings.
- The White Sox have covered the run line in six of their last seven games at Guaranteed Rate Field.
- The White Sox have won the first inning in three of their last four games as underdogs against the Guardians.
- The White Sox have led after 5 innings in seven of their last eight games as home underdogs against American League opponents.
- The Guardians have trailed after 3 innings in three of their last four games as road favorites against American League opponents.
Why the Cleveland Guardians will win
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Ben Lively Record this season: 1-1 ERA: 2.08
- The White Sox have lost each of their last 11 Thursday night games at Guaranteed Rate Field.
- The Guardians have won each of their last nine Thursday night games as favorites against AL Central opponents.
- The Guardians have covered the run line in each of their last 12 Thursday night games against AL Central opponents.
- The White Sox have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six home games against AL Central opponents following a road win.
- The Guardians have led after 5 innings in each of their last six Thursday games.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Guardians’ last eight games as road favorites have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Five of the White Sox’s last six games against AL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the White Sox’s last four games.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Guardians’ last four night games at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction
I’ll probably just stay with Cleveland. Over his last three starts, Lively has done well. He’s got just three earned runs in that time over 16.2 innings total on 13 hits and five walks. Lively should be able to notch a quality start here if all goes well. As for Fedde, he struggled in his last appearance (4.1 innings; five earned) but had just three earned in 14.1 innings prior to that.
On Wednesday the Guardians gave up four runs in the fourth inning but did well otherwise. The bats were a bit slow on five team hits, though. Only Brayan Rocchio (run; RBI) had multiple hits. Cleveland needs some more action at the plate on Thursday.