Indians vs White Sox MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
Even though their records wouldn’t tell you this, these are the two teams atop the AL Central currently. They are each a half game up on the Tigers, but neither team is really playing their best baseball.
CLE: Justin Masterson (0-2, 5.40) v CWS: John Danks (2-3,6.23)
Date/Time: Thursday, May 3, 8:10 PM ET
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois
Broadcast: Fox Sports
Spread: White Sox -120
Over/Under: 8
But that just goes to show you how weak the division really is, when the first place team–Cleveland (11-10) is just one game over .500.
The White Sox (12-11), will look to mount some consistency, and will do so by turning the ball over to Justin Masterson. His first, and most recent starts were pretty good this season. He pitched at least eight innings in both of those appearances. Sandwiched in between those starts though lies the reason his ERA sits over five right now. He has to stop walking guys if he wants to enjoy the success that he has earned in a couple of his starts. Even in his most recent start, in which he went eight and a third, he still walked five people. He was just able to dance around them in giving up just the two runs.
Meanwhile, the Tribe will send John Danks to the hill. Danks has yet to allow less than three runs in a start. He has only recorded an out in the seventh inning on one occasion, and that was still in a losing effort. Like his counterpart, if he wants to be successful this season he is going to have to cut down on his walks for his lofty strikeout totals to mean much of anything. He is coming off of his worst start of the season in which he allowed seven earned in five and two thirds. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Players to watch for:
Indians – Shin-Soo Choo .237/0/9/.375
He’s gotten off to an awful start this season, but Danks could be the cure to all of that. He has 22 at-bats against the southpaw and has seven hits. Three of them are of the extra base variety. Including one home run.
White Sox – Middle of the Order
I don’t really do this for this section, but three people in this order flat out kill Masterson. Each have over 15 at-bats against the righty, and they are all hitting at least .308. While two of them sport averages over .400. Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, and A.J. Pierzynski are the men to lookout for on the Sox.
Matt’s Free Prediction: White Sox– Egad ! Both teams are better on the road than at home.
So look for the Sox to take this one.
