Tag: AL Central

The biggest question facing every AL Central team in 2021

SportsPulse: Can the Twins finally win a playoff series? Are the White Sox ready to be contenders? Steve Gardner breaks down the biggest question facing each team in the AL Central.

SportsPulse: Can the Twins finally win a playoff series? Are the White Sox ready to be contenders? Steve Gardner breaks down the biggest question facing each team in the AL Central.

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians sports betting odds and lines, with MLB betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Chicago White Sox (1-2) visit the division rival Cleveland Indians (2-1) Monday at Progressive Field for a 7:10 p.m. ET first pitch. We analyze the White Sox-Indians MLB betting odds and picks, with betting advice and tips around the matchup.

White Sox at Indians: Projected starting pitchers

RHP Dylan Cease vs. RHP Aaron Civale

Cease posted a dismal 4-7 record, 5.79 ERA and 1.55 WHIP across 73 innings over 14 starts in 2019, his rookie year.

  • The right-hander was a little better on the road than at home last season. He went 2-3 with a 4.89 ERA over 38 2/3 innings in seven road starts, while finishing 2-4 with a 6.82 ERA across 34 1/3 innings in seven home outings.
  • Cease made just one start in 2019 against the Indians, allowing four earned runs on four hits and two walks with a career-high 11 strikeouts across 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision Sept. 3, 2019 in Cleveland.

Civale posted a 3-4 record with a 2.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 46 strikeouts over 57 2/3 innings across 10 starts last season, also his rookie campaign.

  • Civale was nearly untouchable at home last year, going 2-1 with a 1.09 ERA and .195 opponent batting average across 24 2/3 innings in four starts.
  • Civale went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA and .313 opponent batting average while serving up two homers in two starts against the White Sox in 2019.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

White Sox at Indians: Key injuries

(List of injuries around the league)

White Sox

  • OF Eloy Jimenez (head) questionable
  • 2B Nick Madrigal (head) questionable
  • OF Nomar Mazara (illness) out

Indians

  • CF Delino DeShields (COVID-19 symptoms) out
  • OF Tyler Naquin (toe) out

White Sox at Indians: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Monday at 5:40 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Indians 6, White Sox 4

Moneyline (ML)

The INDIANS (-129) are a solid value at home with Civale on the bump, as he was money at home last season. On the flip side, Cease was rather shaky, although he was much better on the road than at home. Still, Chicago’s pitching was shaky in its opening series against the Minnesota Twins, losing two out of three games while coughing up 27 total runs. Look for Cleveland’s offense to take advantage.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Indians (-129) to win straight up nets a return of just $7.75 if they do so.

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

The INDIANS (-1.5, +145) are worth a small-unit wager against Cease. Plus, the White Sox have won just six of their past 20 games at Progressive Field, so the home side is definitely the play.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 9.5 (-110) is worth a look, but don’t get crazy. Civale was untouchable at home in 2019, while Cease was better on the road than at home. However, Chicago’s pitching staff was tattooed for 27 runs (nine runs per game) in the first series against the Twins. After a slow start, totaling four runs in the first two games, the Indians racked up nine in their series-clinching win on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]

Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians matchup, with MLB betting predictions, picks and best bets.

The Kansas City Royals visit the division rival Cleveland Indians Friday at Progressive Field for a 7:10 p.m. ET first pitch. We analyze the Royals-Indians MLB betting odds and lines, with betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Royals at Indians: Projected starting pitchers

LHP Danny Duffy vs. RHP Shane Bieber

Duffy was 7-6 with a 4.34 ERA, 115 K’s and 1.31 WHIP in 2019.

  • Duffy went 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA across two starts vs. Cleveland in 2019.
  • The southpaw posted a 5-5 record with a 4.99 ERA and allowed 14 homers in 83 innings across 15 evening starts last season.

Bieber emerged as the Indians’ ace in 2019, registering a 15-8 record, 3.28 ERA and 259 strikeouts with a 1.05 WHIP in 34 appearances (33 starts).

  • Bieber’s 259 strikeouts ranked third in the majors, while he was 15th in ERA.
  • Bieber won his only decision vs. Kansas City but posted a marginal 4.50 ERA and .279 opponent batting average in three starts across 18 innings.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Royals at Indians: Key injuries

(List of injuries around the league)

Royals

  • C Cam Gallagher has been designated for the COVID-19 injured list after testing positive, and his return date is unclear.

Indians

  • CF Delino DeShields is also on the 10-day injured list, as the team wants him to have extra time to recover from his bout with coronavirus. OFs Jordan Luplow (back) and Tyler Naquin (toe) are questionable for the opener.

Royals at Indians: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Wednesday at 7 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Indians 5, Royals 2

Moneyline (ML)

AVOID. The Indians (-209) should get off on the right foot with their ace on the hill, but risking more than two times your potential return is not a recommended strategy, especially for Game 1. You’re better off looking to the run line.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Indians (-209) to win straight up nets a return of just $4.78 if they do so.

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

Play the INDIANS (-1.5, -110) on the run line, as they look to start out victorious on their home field. While there will not be any fans in the stands at Progressive Field to spur them on, the familiarity of their home park combined with an inferior opponent should mean a successful opener for the Tribe. The Royals are a dismal 9-27 in their past 36 trips to Cleveland.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 8.5 (-110) is the recommended play, although it will be a close shave. The Under has hit in four of the previous five head-to-head meetings in Northeast Ohio, and with the strangeness of the COVID-19 late start and rust, look for plenty of Under results early on until teams get their sea legs.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]