MLB Betting – Indians vs White Sox Preview & Pick
With the Detroit Tigers separating themselves from the pack slightly in the American League Central, the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox have a big series this week.
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Bet on Baseball – Indians vs White Sox Preview & Pick
Date: Thursday, August 18, 2011
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, IL
Broadcast: STO, CSN
Cleveland Indians at Chicago White Sox Betting Lines from BetUS.com
Money Line: Indians -123
Over/Under: 8
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Cleveland Indians (60-58 through August 16)
Justin Masterson (9-7, 2.69)
The winner will stay within striking distance of the Tigers; the loser’s playoff hopes will be seriously dashed.
The Indians have certainly slipped since their outstanding start to 2011 but deserve credit for not completely crumbling. Through Tuesday, the Tribe had won four of six. They welcomed outfielder Shin-Soo Choo back from injury over the last few days, too.
Justin Masterson just keeps getting it done on the mound, with that 2.69 ERA flying way under the radar. He has eight quality starts in his last 10 tries and continues to do an outstanding job avoiding the long ball, surrendering just five homers all year. Masterson has bizarre luck against the White Sox historically. He has a 2.00 ERA and just one homer allowed over 63 career innings against them but is 2-4.
Chicago White Sox (61-60 through August 16)
Philip Humber (8-8, 3.67)
I’ve said it all year long; the Chicago White Sox are not out of the hunt because they’re the AL Central’s deepest team and no one else had pulled away from the pack. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Low and behold, it only took one hot streak to put the Pale Hose back in the race. Chicago is 9-2 over its last 11 games. Paul Konerko continues to show no sign of slowing down, batting .317 with 27 homers and 83 RBI. And hey – Adam Dunn has raised his average from .160 in the first half to 1.71 in the second!
While Sox pitchers like John Danks have improved of late, Phil Humber has come crashing back to Earth after a fairly lucky, out-of-nowhere start to his season. Humber has allowed at least four runs in five straight starts; his last quality start came on July 2.
MLB Trends
CLE are 2-8 in their last 10 games following a win.
Over is 6-2 in CLE last 8 Thu. games.
CHW are 9-3 in their last 12 overall.
CHW are 9-3 in their last 12 games on grass.
CHW are 3-8 in their last 11 home games.
CLE are 3-13 in the last 16 meetings.
MLB Free pick:
Humber has won just three times in 10 starts at home this season. Meanwhile, despite his poor win/loss record against them, Masterson has been masterful against the White Sox in his career. It’s especially encouraging that he’s kept the ball down so well against a power-hitting team. They can’t seem to figure him out. He’s due for a “W” against them. I like the Tribe on Thursday.
Indians vs White Sox prediction: Indians 5, White Sox 2
