The Chicago White Sox (38-55) and Atlanta Braves (61-29) play the 2nd game of a 3-game series Saturday. First pitch from Truist Park is at 7:15pm ET (FOX). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the White Sox vs. Braves odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Atlanta leads 1-0
The All-Star break is a time to rest and reset, but for the White Sox, Friday’s game was symbolic of how their season has been. The same is true for the Braves.
Chicago failed to score a single run, losing 9-0 to Atlanta. The White Sox hit into 4 double plays and walked 9. Braves RHP Charlie Morton got his 10th win of the season after pitching 7 shutout innings.
The White Sox came into this season with reasonably high expectations in a weak AL Central, but games like this make you question why they were looked at so favorably in the offseason.
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White Sox at Braves projected starters
RHP Lance Lynn vs. RHP Spencer Strider
Lynn (5-8, 6.03 ERA) makes his 19th start. He has a 1.42 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 11.1 K/9 in 103 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 7 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 11 K in a 6-2 loss in 11 innings at the Toronto Blue Jays July 6
- Allows a 1.22 OPS when the batter is ahead of the count
Strider (11-2, 3.44 ERA) makes his 19th start. He has a 1.09 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 14.3 K/9 in 104 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 11 K in a 6-1 win at the Tampa Bay Rays last Saturday
- Allows a .252 batting average when the batter swings at the first pitch, and just a .176 average when they take the first pitch
White Sox at Braves odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:39 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): White Sox +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Braves -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): White Sox +2.5 (-120) | Braves -2.5 (+100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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White Sox at Braves picks and predictions
Prediction
Braves 6, White Sox 5
Moneyline
After Friday’s game, its hard to see the White Sox winning any game this series. But everyday is a new day, even if you are Chicago. Now that it is a new day, I still don’t think the White Sox can pull one out in Atlanta. But at -300, I will PASS and look to the run line.
Run line/Against the spread
Yes, Chicago is 17-30 straight up on the road, but against the spread it has a winning record (24-23). More importantly, it is 32-27 as an underdog and 21-15 as a road dog.
BetMGM is giving the White Sox 2 runs to cover, which you don’t see everyday. The pitching matchup severely favors the Braves, but after Lynn’s last start, he has what it takes to at least keep the game close, hopefully.
BET WHITE SOX +2.5 (-120).
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Over/Under
Friday’s game was a proper reflection on the difficulty of picking an Over/Under. The White Sox are 26th in runs per game (4.1) and the Braves are a tough team to score against, allowing the 3rd-fewest runs a game (4.0).
And surprise, surprise, the White Sox did not score a single run, but the Over nearly hit thanks to 9 runs from the Braves who score the 2nd-most runs per game.
That being said, while hitting the Under in 53% of their games, on the road they have a 22-21-4 Under record. Add that with Atlanta’s 27-18-1 record towards the Over, its tough not to think more runs will score for this game.
LEAN OVER 8.5 (-110).
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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