The San Diego Padres and the Chicago White Sox meet Friday in MLB action from Guaranteed Rate Field. This will be the first installment of the final regular-season series. The Padres just finished up against the Giants, taking two of three games. As for Chicago, they played the Diamondbacks in their last set. After losses in the first pair, on Thursday the White Sox bagged a two-run win to stop the sweep. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place. 

San Diego Padres

The Padres took a 2-1 loss to the Giants in their Monday matchup, but then bounced back for wins 4-0 and 5-2 in the next two games to take the series. In the Wednesday victory, San Diego’s Garrett Cooper hit a solo homer while both Manny Machado (three hits) and Xander Bogaerts added two RBI each. 

In the starting pitcher role for Friday’s game, the Padres are going with Nick Martinez. This year in 62 games (eight starts) Martinez is 5-4 with a 3.59 ERA and 98 Ks in 105.1 innings. Martinez has a 0.64 ERA over his last seven games (two starts). 

San Diego Padres Team Facts

The Padres have lost nine of their last 12 games as favorites against AL Central opponents following a win.
The Padres have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games as road favorites against AL Central opponents following a win.
The Padres have led after 5 innings in each of their last five games as favorites against American League opponents.
The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Padres’ last four games as favorites.
The Padres have led after 7 innings in each of their last eight games as road favorites.

Chicago White Sox 

Over on the White Sox’ side, they lost to the Diamondbacks 15-4 in the Tuesday game and 3-0 in Wednesday’s matchup. On Thursday in the finale Chicago finally got it together with a 3-1 win despite just three team hits. Yoan Moncada (two runs) and Andrew Vaughn (two RBI) each homered in the victory. 

It’ll be Dylan Cease in the starting role for the Sox on Friday. Across his 32 starts this year Cease is 7-8 with a 4.66 ERA and 207 Ks in 172.0 innings. Cease has gone 2-2 with a 5.82 ERA in his last seven starts. 

Chicago White Sox Team Facts

The White Sox have lost each of their last nine home games against National League opponents following a win.
The White Sox have failed to cover the run line each of their last six home games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
The White Sox have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last six games against NL West opponents that held a losing record.
The White Sox have led after 3 innings in five of their last seven games as home underdogs against National League opponents.
The White Sox have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last six home games against National League opponents that held a losing record.

Matchup/League Facts

The Chicago White Sox rank 30th in the league for on-base percentage this season (.292).
The Chicago White Sox rank 30th in the league for walks this season (368).
The San Diego Padres rank 2nd in the league for walks this season (637).
The San Diego Padres rank T3rd in the league for runs allowed this season (644).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll take a stab on the White Sox in this one. Cease has been pitching well lately, even though he’s just 1-1 in his last three starts. In that trio Cease has given up just four earned in 18.1 total innings. As for Martinez, he’s doing well himself with zero earned over his last three games in 8.0 frames. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a low-scoring affair here, at least initially. On Thursday Chicago had another pretty abysmal offensive outing, but they cashed in on a couple of homers. The pen was great though, posting 5.0 innings with no hits, one walk, four Ks and zero earned runs. I’m probably staying away from this one but I think the Sox might be worth a try on a minor value play.