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You hate to say that any one series over the course of the MLB season is make-or-break. For the Chicago White Sox (41-45 SU, -4.71 Units) though, the difference between winning three out of four and losing three out of four against the Kansas City Royals (52-34 SU, +16.85 Units) starting with Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader could be the difference between buying and selling at the trade deadline.
ODDS ANALYSIS
There are still a ton of games left for these two to play this year, as there have only been six meetings. Kansas City is 4-2 in those games, netting 2.20 units of profit in the process. The favored team is 4-2 as well, while the under is 3-2-1.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The White Sox have yet to set their rotation, but it sounds as if Jeff Samardzija is going to be starting the first game of this series. "Shark" threw well at the end of the first half of the year, throwing a complete game shutout against the Blue Jays at home in his last start, but he was whipped to the tune of five runs in six innings by these Royals the one time he faced them this year.
Kansas City has already set its rotation, as Ned Yost has announced Edinson Volquez as his first starter out of the chute Friday afternoon.
The “Volq Man” is 8-4 with a 3.31 ERA this season, but more important is the fact that the Royals are 13-5 in his 18 games started, including a recent 6-1 streak in his last seven starts. Volquez is 4-0 in that run with a 3.40 ERA.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"He's got a good, overpowering live fastball, and he's got a great slider. He's easily one of the most sought-after guys out there." – Blue Jays manager John Gibbons on Samardzija following the complete game shutout last week in the Windy City
SITUATIONAL BETTING
With Samardzija successfully getting deep into games right now, the White Sox know that they should be able to shut the door in this game with the back of their bullpen.
The Pale Hose have a solid setup man in Jacob Petricka, who has allowed just two hits and two walks with no runs in his last 6.1 innings. They also have a tremendous closer you can trust in David Robertson, who has thrown four straight perfect innings, needing 13 or fewer pitches to complete the frame in each.
PROP TALK
You would have thought that Lorenzo Cain was going to slow down just a bit after such a hot start to the season. However, in typical Royals fashion, ever since Alex Gordon has gotten hurt, Cain has really picked it up.
The outfielder is batting .500 with eight extra base hits and nine RBIs in his last 10 overall games, and he’s reached base safely in all of those duels, making him a good prop pick for the first game of the second half.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Even though Samardzija is hot now, we're just not so sure that he is going to be able to keep this up. He was great at home in the first half (4-1, 2.59 ERA), but hasn't had any success against these Royals, especially in this form.
Volquez has this knack for just keeping Kansas City in games, and even though the White Sox have a great bullpen, the Royals have more arms down there that could be counted upon in a doubleheader situation.
Kansas City 5, Chicago 3
The baseball betting odds for this Friday game will first be available at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this televised baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, individual inning run totals and next hitter results. Log in and start gambling during the game now!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The game between the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox will start at 2:10 p.m. ET on Friday, July 17, 2015 at US Cellular Field in Chicago, IL. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
