White Sox vs. Mariners Odds
| White Sox Odds | -156 |
| Mariners Odds | +135 |
| Over/Under | 8.5 |
| Time | Wednesday, 4:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLBTV |
| Odds as of Tuesday evening and via BetAmerica. | |
In the final game of the White Sox West Coast trip, two soft-tossers take the mound in the third of a three-game set on Wednesday afternoon. Southpaw Dallas Keuchel, will duel with 25-year-old Justin Dunn in this matinee.
Given the volatility of both of these squads to start the season, could this be a pitching duel or a hitting bloodbath?
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox bats have only been productive against lefties so far in the first five games of the season. This should change on Wednesday. The Sox currently rank in the middle of the pack with a 9.9% walk rate, which should increase in this matchup.
In Dunn’s limited time in the MLB, he has walked 40 hitters in 52 1/3 innings. This plays into the hands of the more patient hitters like Yasmani Grandal and Yoán Moncada, who both see the ball well from the left side as switch-hitters. In fact, these two combined for four hits on Monday, so there is a chance things are turning around for both of them after a slow start.
Keuchel carried the baggage over from his last appearance against Oakland in the Wild Card Series in his first appearance of 2021. He allowed a hard hit percentage of 85% and six balls hit harder than 100 mph. This is a concerning trend for a guy who typically can keep the ball on the ground.
Seattle Mariners
Given Dunn’s erratic nature, there is a chance Seattle will have to reach for some other pitching alternatives early as well. Bear in mind, Dunn allowed an average exit velocity of 92 mph in 2020, which is a major concern.
Seattle is a subpar hitting team, but it does have some bats who can pour it on at the right time. Evan White hit eight homers in 2020’s shortened season. Kyle Seager’s 2020 could have been an outlier given his past successes. Mitch Haniger could be an intriguing trade deadline option for any contender, and Taylor Trammell is a phenomenal prospect.
Although Kyle Lewis is on the injured list, look for them to possibly jump on a struggling Keuchel early in this game, particularly if he cannot keep the ball down in the strike zone.
White Sox-Mariners Pick
Barring a quick turnaround for Keuchel or a lack of hitting from the White Sox with a young pitcher on the hill, this game will be high scoring. Currently, the total sits at 8.5, so the over is a no-brainer for me.
Take this up to 9.5 because both starters will struggle. middle relief is questionable until proven otherwise, especially for Seattle, and both teams have enough bats to keep the line moving.
Pick: Over 8.5 (play up to 9.5)
