Tigers vs. White Sox MLB Odds, Pick & Preview: Bet the Over/Under in AL Central Clash (Friday, July 8)
Quinn Harris/Getty. Pictured: Eloy Jimenez.
- The White Sox host the Tigers in an AL Central clash
- Chicago is a favorite to overcome their loss last evening.
- Read on for betting analysis of the Friday night contest.
Tigers vs. White Sox Odds
| Tigers Odds | +150 |
| White Sox Odds | -175 |
| Over/Under | 8 (-110 / -110) |
| Time | 8:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
The Tigers won their fifth-straight game on Thursday night in Chicago, beating the White Sox 2-1 in game one of the series.
The White Sox fell to 39-42 on the season, six games behind Minnesota in the American League Central division race. They were 5-1 against Detroit this season and starter Dylan Cease was 10-0 in his career against the Tigers before the loss.
Chicago has had a tough time winning at home this year as it has a 17-24 record at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Can the White Sox get back in the win column or will they fall further out of the race tonight?
Detroit Tigers Aiming To Take Advantage Of Pitching
The Tigers got the win Thursday night, but their offense still managed to score only two runs. Detroit is last in all of baseball in runs per game on the road, averaging 2.60 runs per game.
White Sox starter Lucas Giolito has struggled this year with a 4.90 ERA. His xFIP is nearly a half run lower at 4.48, however. Giolito has given up a ton of power to right-handed hitters with a .314 ISO allowed to right-handed hitters in 194 plate appearances this season.
Fortunately for him, the Tigers don't have a lot of power in the lineup as none of the hitters in Detroit's projected lineup tonight have an ISO above .200 against right-handed pitching. Giolito has completed at least six innings, allowed no more than two earned runs, and struck out at least six batters in each of his last two starts. Giolito has a 4.36 ERA in 15 career starts against the Tigers.
Chicago White Sox Looking For Breakout
At the beginning of June, it looked like Tarik Skubal would be the Tigers' representative in this month's All-Star game. In his first 10 starts this year, Skubal had a 2.15 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 58.2 innings.
He's come crashing back down to earth in his last six starts with a 7.80 ERA in 30 innings. Skubal will have to improve on his walks and home runs allowed if he's going to turn his season back around. In his first 10 starts, he allowed only 10 walks and two home runs. In his last six starts, he's allowed 14 walks and six home runs.
Skubal has almost reverted back to the pitcher he was last year. That was one who would give up walks and home runs in bunches. It appeared Skubal was over this problem in the first two months of the season, but perhaps not.
The White Sox aren't a good team to have home run issues against as they have a good amount of power in the lineup with Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, and A.J. Pollack having ISOs above .200 against left-handed pitching this season. Skubal faced the White Sox back in April of this year and wasn't particularly good, allowing five runs in four innings.
That game was at Comerica Park and Skubal has been a little bit better on the road this year with a 3.80 ERA on the road compared to a 4.33 ERA at home.
Tigers-White Sox Pick
I'm taking the over on eight runs here. While I think the White Sox win this game, -175 isn't good value on a team that's 17-24 at home this year and is throwing out a starting pitcher with a near 5.00 ERA.
Giolito has allowed at least four runs in three of his last five starts and Skubal has allowed at least four runs in four of his last five starts.
These aren't the strongest offenses as the Tigers are last in all of baseball in runs per game on the road and the White Sox are 21st in the league in runs per game at home, but I think this is the spot to fade both of these pitchers.
Pick: Over 8 (-110)
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