The Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox meet Thursday in MLB playoff action at Rate Field. Here’s a White Sox vs. Guardians Prediction. This article will include a White Sox vs. Guardians Pick.
Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview
The Cleveland Guardians need a win to force a game 5 on Saturday. The Guardians have won 10 of their last 14 games. The Cleveland Guardians are batting .188 in these playoffs, have a .316 OBP, and a .292 slugging percentage. The Cleveland Guardians pitching staff has a 3.33 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Jo Adell leads the Cleveland Guardians with 3 hits and 4 RBI, while Patrick Bailey and Chase DeLauter have combined for 6 hits and 1 RBI.
Parker Messick gets the ball for the Cleveland Guardians, and he is 12-9 with a 2.56 ERA and 193 strikeouts this season. Messick is 3-1 with a 2.56 ERA and 33 strikeouts in his career against the Chicago White Sox. Messick is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA and 6 strikeouts in his postseason career.
Chicago White Sox Betting Preview
The Chicago White Sox look to make the ALCS for the first time since 2005. The White Sox haven’t lost back-to-back games since September 16. The Chicago White Sox are batting .226 on the season, have a .323 OBP, and have a .317 slugging percentage. The Chicago White Sox pitching staff has a 3.20 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Chase Meidroth leads the Chicago White Sox with 6 hits and 5 RBI, while Kyle Teel and Munetaka Murakami have combined for 8 hits and 5 RBI.
Hagen Smith gets the ball for the Chicago White Sox, and he is 3-3 with a 1.29 ERA and 41 strikeouts this season. Smith is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA and 8 strikeouts in his career against the Cleveland Guardians. Smith is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 5 strikeouts in his postseason career.
Why the Chicago White Sox will win
- The underdogs have won each of the White Sox’s last five games.
- The Guardians have lost each of their last three playoff games as favorites.
- The White Sox have covered the run line in each of their last eight games against AL opponents following a home loss.
- The Guardians have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four road playoff games after playing the previous day.
- The White Sox have led after 3 innings in four of their last five home games against AL Central opponents.
- The White Sox have won the first inning in four of their last five home games against AL Central opponents.
- The White Sox have led after 5 innings in five of their last six home games against AL Central opponents.
Why the Cleveland Guardians will win
- The Guardians have won each of their last six games as favorites after playing the previous day.
- The White Sox have lost six of their last seven-day games against the Guardians following a loss.
- The Guardians have covered the run line in each of their last 10 road games.
- The White Sox have failed to cover the run line in each of their last three home games against teams that held a winning record.
- The White Sox have trailed after 3 innings in five of their last six day games against opponents that held a winning record.
- The Guardians have led after 5 innings in six of their last seven games as favorites.
Total Runs Facts
- Eight of the White Sox’s last nine games against AL opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Six of the Guardians’ last seven games as favorites against AL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of the Guardians’ last eight Thursday games against AL opponents.
- There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in seven of the White Sox’s last eight games against AL opponents.
Chicago White Sox Player Prop Facts
- Munetaka Murakami has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances with the White Sox as home underdogs against AL Central opponents.
- Hagen Smith has recorded three or more strikeouts in three of his four previous appearances with the White Sox as underdogs against the Guardians.
- Miguel Vargas has recorded at least one hit in each of the White Sox’s last nine games against AL Central opponents.
- Munetaka Murakami ranks T10th in the league in Home Runs (35) this season.
Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts
- Steven Kwan has recorded at least one hit in each of the Guardians’ last eight road playoff games.
- David Fry has hit a home run in two of his last three playoff appearances with the Guardians as favorites.
- Parker Messick ranks 6th amongst qualified players for Earned Run Average (2.56) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The White Sox rank 4th in the league for walks this season (589).
- The White Sox rank 5th in the league for runs scored this season (776).
- The Guardians rank 3rd in the league for strikeouts this season (1530).
- The Guardians rank 27th in the league for home runs this season (162).
White Sox vs Guardians Prediction
You can argue the Guardians have the edge with Messick on the mound, as he has a 2.56 ERA and 1.06 WHIP this season. However, as I’ve said all season, the White Sox are a good and profitable team that continues to get disrespected in the market, yet they keep making us money.
The White Sox were the third most profitable team in the regular season and, despite losing yesterday, are still the most profitable team in the playoffs. One loss doesn’t change things for us. Also, Smith has allowed 10 hits and 3 runs in his last 22.2 innings. I’m sticking with the team that’s been good to us all year. Give me the White Sox.