The Chicago White Sox are really starting to come back to the field. After racing out to a lead in the AL Central which got as high as 6.5-games, they've dropped nine of their last 12 heading into play this weekend. A day off on Thursday should help get their act back together again, especially since they haven't had a day off on this skid. They'll be back on the diamond this Saturday against the Kansas City Royals in what is shaping up to be quite the important series.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
The biggest thing these two teams have going for them is the fact that they're pitching incredibly well. The end result is two clubs which are cashing in big bets for under bettors time and time again.
The White Sox are 26-19-3 for under backers this season. The only team with a better mark than them in the American League? The Royals, who are 26-17-3.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The White Sox have gotten fantastic pitching from Jose Quintana and Chris Sale this year, but the contributions Mat Latos has given shouldn't be underestimated. He's slowed down just a bit from his hot start, but with Latos on the mound on Saturday, the Sox have to be considered dangerous.
The righty has a 4.06 ERA with 26 strikeouts against 18 walks in 51 innings of work, but he's got this knack of keeping his team in the game. Sure, we're worried about his four home runs allowed in his last two games just as we don't like his 1.63 WHIP in his last six starts, but Latos is 6-1 for a reason, and it's not just that the Sox are giving him a ton of run support.
Ian Kennedy has some concerns as well. In his last three starts, he's given up 11 runs in 15.1 innings of work, and he's had a really hard time getting out of innings, especially when he's gotten into a little bit of trouble.
Kennedy is a man who knows how to win games, and he too has managed to keep his team in the thick of games this year for the most part. That said, his 3.38 ERA is a bit deceiving considering the fact that his FIP is a significantly higher 4.33.
LIVE BETTING
The big factor which the Royals always have on their size is the fact that their bullpen is just so darn good. They've got the bets pen in the majors per WAR at 2.5, and their 2.50 ERA is second-best in the majors behind that of the Mets.
The White Sox aren't far behind with a 2.60 ERA in relief, but digging deeper shows some flaws for sure.
Chicago's relievers have combined for a FIP of 3.40, a number which is significantly higher than the 2.99 for Kansas City.
QUICK PICK
This is a really tough pitching matchup knowing that both of these men have a history of hanging in there without being dominant. With that being the case, we suspect this is going to end up becoming a bullpen game. Though we have a ton of confidence in David Robertson finishing things off for the White Sox, are they going to be able to get the ball to him with Kansas City throwing Kelvin Herrera, the resurgent Chien-Ming Wang, Luke Hochevar and Joakim Soria their way? We're not all that sure.
Throw in the fact that Lorenzo Cain is one of the many Kansas City hitters starting to heat up just a bit, and we've got the makings of a close victory for the Royals on Saturday afternoon.
MLB Odds: Royals 6, White Sox 5
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