The White Sox own the best record in the American League, heading into the opener of a four-game AL Central rivalry series with Minnesota Monday night on the South Side. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Monday’s MLB betting odds opened Minnesota and Berrios at around -130 over Chicago and Cease, with an over/under of nine runs. Both figures were holding steady in the early betting action.
The Twins could also be found getting around +120, giving the run and a half on the MLB run line.
Twins vs. White Sox Set-Up
Minnesota just swept three games at home from Cleveland over the weekend, winning Sunday 7-5.
Just before that, the Twins split two games with St. Louis, and just before that, they took four of five games from Detroit. Going back a bit further, Minnesota is 10-2 over its last 12 games.
Chicago, meanwhile, just swept three games at home from the Tigers, winning Sunday 5-2. Just before that, the White Sox split two games with Pittsburgh, and just before that, they swept four games at Kansas City. So Chicago is 8-1 over its last nine games.
At 30-16 overall, the White Sox lead the AL Central by one game over the second-place Twins, and they’re a half-game up on Tampa Bay in the battle for the best record in the American League.
At 30-18, Minnesota trails the Sox by one game in the divisional race, but they’re also 3.5 games ahead of Cleveland in the battle for second place, and second place makes the playoffs this season.
The Twins lead the season series with the White Sox four games to two.
Monday’s Starting Arms
Cease is 4/9 on quality starts this season but has been on a short leash lately. Last Tuesday, he limited Pittsburgh to two runs through five innings and left the game with a lead, but Chicago lost 5-4. And over his last three starts, he’s allowed six runs and ten hits, with eight walks, over 14 1/3 innings.
On the season, the White Sox are 5-4 with Cease, but only 1-2 over his last three starts.
In two starts against Minnesota, last year, Cease got ripped for 13 runs and 17 hits, including three home runs, over just seven innings. Chicago lost both those games.
Berrios is 3/9 on quality starts this year. Last Tuesday, he gave up three runs in five innings of a 7-3 Twins win over St. Louis. And over his last four starts, he’s allowed seven runs and 15 hits through 22 2/3 innings, with nine walks and 31 strikeouts.
For the season, Minnesota is 5-4 with Berrios, 3-1 over his last four starts.
In two starts already this season against the White Sox, Berrios allowed six runs and ten hits through 10 innings. But the Twins won both those games.
Monday’s Batting Splits
Minnesota is batting .249 this season against right-handed pitching, with a .324 team OBP and a .467 team slugging percentage. The Twins have also scored at least six runs five times over their last seven games.
Chicago is batting .269/.326/.450 vs. RH pitching this season. The White Sox have also scored at least five runs seven times over their last nine games.
The Bullpens
The Minnesota bullpen owns a 3.70 ERA this season and a 1.28 WHIP.
The Chicago pen owns a 3.80 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.
- Get more details: Minnesota at Chicago Match-up Stats
MLB Betting Trends
- The Twins are just 10-13 on the road this season.
- The White Sox are 14-9 at home this season.
- The Twins are 22-11 against right-handed starters this season.
- The White Sox are 17-16 vs. RH starters this season.
Totals Report
- Unders are a lopsided 30-16 in Twins games this season.
- Unders are 23-21 in White Sox games this season.
- Overs are 12-11 in games played at Guaranteed Rate Field this season.
- Overs are 4-2 in Twins-White Sox games this season.
