The Chicago White Sox will play host to the Texas Rangers at Guaranteed Rate Field. The opening pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET and WGN is in line to showcase this AL matchup.
Texas Rangers vs. Chicago White Sox Odds
Chicago (+100) is the underdog to Texas (-110) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this game at 9.5 runs (-120 for the under and +100 for the over). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at Rangers -1.5 runs (+135) and White Sox 1.5 runs (-155).
The Rangers are 18-29 SU and are 19-27 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 3.0 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going and 11.8 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The White Sox, on the other hand, are 12-30 SU and 20-21 ATS. The team’s lost 16.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.3 units ATS. Chicago has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven outings and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Chicago games have had an over/under record of 20-19-2 so far in 2018. Texas has an over/under record of 23-20-3.
Mike Minor will get the start for the visiting Rangers. The left-handed Minor is 3-2 with a 5.61 ERA and 37 strikeouts. He has yet to face the White Sox this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The White Sox will turn to righty Reynaldo Lopez (0-3, 3.50 ERA) to the mound. Lopez has 31 strikeouts and 21 walks to his name, as well as a 1.27 WHIP. Lopez only made one start against the Rangers in 2017 (0-1, 12.46 ERA and six strikeouts across 4.1 innings).
As a unit, Chicago’s pitching staff has given up 5.7 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has a 5.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.45 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
The Chicago hitters are putting up 3.9 runs per contest, including 3.8 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .237/.303/.355 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Right fielder Trayce Thompson and first baseman Jose Abreu have led the White Sox offense this year. Thompson is slashing .107/.138/.286 with six hits, three RBIs and nine runs scored, and Abreu is batting .306 with eight homers, 25 RBIs and 24 runs.
Abreu performed well against lefty pitching in 2017, slashing .356/.402/.631 across 164 plate appearances (his overall season line was .304/.354/.552).
In the visiting dugout, Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.12 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 7.14 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.09, along with a K/9 of 8.18.
The Rangers offense has slashed .229/.302/.384 on its way to 4.1 runs scored per game this year, including 4.2 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Nomar Mazara and Shin-soo Choo have led Texas’ offense. Mazara is hitting .282/.339/.514 with 10 home runs, 27 RBIs and 27 runs scored, while Choo (.251/.332/.402) is up to six homers, 21 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
Mazara seemed to take a step back when hitting on the road in 2017. Across 301 plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .206/.276/.360 (compared to his overall season line of .253/.323/.422).
The Rangers have gained 0.4 units and are 15-18 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 16 of those games, compared to 16 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the White Sox have lost 6.0 units and are 4-6 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in seven of those games, compared to three which went under the total.
Texas Rangers vs. Chicago White Sox MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – White Sox, ATS Winner – White Sox, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Rangers have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The White Sox have hit nine over their last 10.
Texas fielders have 12 errors over the last 10 games, compared to six errors for Chicago over its last 10.
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