AL Central Division rivals Chicago and Kansas City get the second half of the season underway with Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader. Both teams begin play in the second half with wins in 13 of their previous 20 games.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Royals put a nice run together winning seven of eight games to take a 4.5 game lead in the division and the American League’s best record into the All-Star break. KC’s lead over Minnesota is the largest for any division leader in MLB. The Royals hit the road for the first time since getting swept in a three-game series in Houston from June 29-July 1 and are 22-18 up 6.11 units on the moneyline. The division rivals have played just six times this season with the Royals holding a 4-2 edge. However White Sox have won the last two with both being played in Chicago.
The White Sox won nine of 12 and 13 of 20 heading into the break, crawling within spitting distance of a wild card spot and creating some optimism for the second half. The winning has masked the fact that this is still a poor offensive club. They rank at the bottom of the AL in runs, average and OPS and have scored three or more runs just five times in their last 12 with the under at 8-3-1 during that span.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Edinson Volquez (8-4, 3.31 ERA) took his third straight no-decision after several defensive miscues in the heat complicated his last start. He tossed five scoreless frames to open the contest then the roof collapsed in the sixth when the Blue Jays scored eight times. Volquez was charged with four runs, only one of which was earned, though.
Volquez is 4-0 over his past seven starts and looks for his first win at U.S. Cellular Field against one previous loss. He’s allowed just one earned run in each of his two starts against the Sox this season going 1-1 with a 1.32 ERA.
Though not official, Jeff Samardzija (6-4, 4.02 ERA) is expected to get the ball for Game 1. He dominated the Blue Jays in a 2-0 win on July 9, allowing just four hits with five strikeouts for his second career shutout. He lowered his ERA by half a run over his last two outings giving up one earned run in 16.2 innings with 14 strikeouts and just seven hits surrendered. Both those starts came at U.S. Cellular Field where he is 4-1 with a 2.59 ERA over 59 innings in eight starts.
Samardzija was tagged for six hits and five earned runs in an Opening Day loss at Kansas City and is 0-3 with a 6.39 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against them in his career.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“You never know. We have a doubleheader coming back into it so we better be ready to go as soon as we come back. It’s still not an easy road, but you continue to feel optimistic about what you saw in the last couple of weeks.” – White Sox manager Robin Ventura after going 9-3 before the All-Star break.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The good feeling running through the White Sox clubhouse over the past few weeks certainly wasn’t dampened by a 3-1 loss to the Cubs on Sunday. The Sox closed the first half of the season winning nine of 12 games creating a cloud of optimism over the team. The surge was led by a dominant pitching staff and improved defense, but the club’s offense still remains an issue. The staff had a streak of 30 straight scoreless innings snapped Saturday in the seventh against the Cubs. During their run Sox starters featured a 1.99 ERA with 80 strikeouts and collectively have 52 quality starts this season, tied for first in the AL. Opponents were held to two or fewer runs nine times in the 12 games with the Sox firing three shutouts. The Sox are hitting just .242 and are at the bottom of the league with 60 home runs, a stat that reflects the power drop by Jose Abreu and lack of expected pop from newcomers Adam LaRoche and Melky Cabrera.
PROP TALK
Adam LaRoche has had better seasons over his 12-year career and like most of his teammates he’s struggled at the dish in 2015, hitting just .222 with nine home runs. But getting his hacks against Edinson Volquez could get him started to a big second half. The two have faced each other numerous times from their stays in the National League and LaRoche hits .318 off Volquez with a home run and five RBIs in 22 at-bats while walking five times for a 1.010 OPS.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Royals will likely have an All-Star hangover with seven players in Cincinnati for the Midsummer Classic. They also lost an important piece when Alex Gordon went down with an injury just before the break. The Sox quietly put together a strong run before the break and Jeff Samardzija has been lights out at home. He quiets the Royals bats while the Sox do enough against Edinson Volquez to get a win in the opener.
Chicago 4, Kansas City 2
The MLB odds for this game will be available first at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-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!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! First pitch for the game between the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox is scheduled for Friday, July 17, 2015, at 2:10 p.m. ET at U.S. Cellular Field. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
