White Sox vs Blue Jays MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
The Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees are battling back and forth for the best record in the American League. Both of these are stacked offensively, and their pitching staffs are better than most realize.
Chicago White Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays MLB Betting Preview
Starting Pitchers: Chicago (Liriano) vs. Toronto (Laffey)
Date/Time: August 16, 7:07 p.m.
MLB Gambling Odds from TopBet
Moneyline: Chicago (-125) Toronto (+115)
Runline: White Sox -1.5 (+125) Blue Jays +1.5 (-145)
Total: 8.5
The Chicago White Sox continue to defy the odds and stay in first place in the AL Central. The Tigers aren’t far behind, and the White Sox have to keep winning. Toronto is the most injured team in the majors right now, and their record has suffered quite a bit because of that.
How will this matchup of two left-handed starters go?
Francisco Liriano was brought over from the Twins at the trade deadline to give the White Sox pitching staff a little more depth. He had two solid starts after joining the team, but in his last outing he gave up six earned runs in 3 and 1/3 innings.
The White Sox have been able to be so successful this year because the guys that let them down offensively last year have led the way in 2012. Adam Dunn leads the majors with 34 homers, and he also had 81 RBI’s. Alex Rios is hitting .310. Rios and A.J. Pierzynski both have 67 RBI’s this season. Chicago’s offense averages 4.73 runs per contest. The White Sox have been getting good contributions from all throughout the lineup this season. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The Blue Jays are without Jose Bautista, Brett Lawrie, Adam Lind, and J.P. Arencibia. Four key starters out of the lineup is tough to overcome. Toronto currently has several guys who really are Triple A players in their daily lineup. Bautista’s absence is impossible to overstate, since he truly is the heart and soul of this offense.
Edwin Encarnacion is putting up career numbers in 2012. Encarnacion is hitting .293 with 30 home runs and 80 RBI’s. It’s been an amazing breakout season for a player many thought could never realize his potential. Toronto lives and dies by the long ball.
The Blue Jays are second in the majors, behind only the Yankees, with 158 homers this season. Aaron Laffey is 3-3 with a 4.72 ERA so far this year.
Neither of these pitchers is terribly consistent, and I think both teams can put up several runs in this one. With a total set so low I think the value is on the over.
MLB Free Pick: Over 8.5
