Monday MLB Odds, Picks, Predictions: White Sox vs. Tigers Betting Preview (Sept. 20)
Ron Vesely/Getty Images. Pictured: Carlos Rodon.
- The Tigers and White Sox begin a three-game series on Monday at Comerica Park.
- Chicago's magic number to clinch a playoff berth stands at four, and they send Carlos Rodon to the mound today.
- Mike Ianniello breaks down Tigers vs. White Sox below and gives his best bet.
White Sox vs. Tigers Odds
| White Sox Odds | -225 |
| Tigers Odds | +185 |
| Over/Under | 9 |
| Time | 6:40 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
The White Sox magic number to clinch the AL Central is down to four, with an 11-game lead over the second-place Cleveland Indians.
Detroit is already eliminated from the playoffs, but at 72-78, it has far exceeded expectations and its preseason win total of 68.5. The Tigers were expected to finish last in the division but sit in third and have gone 7-3 over their last 10 games.
Cy Young Contender Rodon Starts For White Sox
The White Sox are likely to have two pitchers finish in the top five of AL Cy Young voting, with one of them being Monday’s starter Carlos Rodon (LHP). The former third overall pick out of NC State is 12-5 with a 2.38 ERA. He has the third lowest ERA among all pitchers with at least 100 innings on the year.
Rodon has made just four starts since the beginning of August, as the White Sox are trying to limit his workload to make sure he is fresh for the playoffs. He is 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA over those outings.
Chicago’s offense has been crushing the ball all season. It ranks fifth in wOBA and third in wRC+. Even as it has been playing on cruise control for the last couple months, Chicago still ranks seventh in wOBA and fifth in wRC+ in the last 30 days.
Multiple players in this lineup have taken turns being the hot hand throughout the season, with Yasmani Grandal currently being the big dog. Since returning from an injury on August 27, he is batting .371 with a 1.300 OPS. Luis Robert and Leury Garcia are mashing the ball right now as well.
Tigers Prospect, Manning, Takes The Hill
The Detroit Tigers No. 3 prospect Matt Manning (RHP) made his MLB debut on June 17 and has since gone 4-6 with a 5.75 ERA in 15 starts. He is coming off his best start of his young career, allowing just one run and two hits while striking out six in six innings against Milwaukee.
So far Manning has really struggled to miss bats at the big-league level. He ranks in the bottom 2% in the league in strikeout rate, averaging just three punch outs per start. He is in the bottom 5% of the league in expected batting average against.
Detroit has been much better on offense this season when facing left-handed pitchers. Over the entire year the Tigers rank 24th in wOBA and 22nd in wRC+. However against lefties, they sit 17th in wOBA and 18th in wRC+. They are ninth in batting average against southpaws.
Really lacking star power in the lineup, the Tigers offense is led by good, not great players. Jeimer Candelario, Robbie Grossman and Jonathan Schoop have been Detroit’s best players offensively but none are batting over .275.
White Sox-Tigers Pick
The 23-year-old Manning faced the White Sox on July 4 in his fourth career start. He allowed seven hits and two runs in 2 2/3 innings and had no strikeouts.
Rodon has faced Detroit twice this season and is 2-0 with a pair of one-run outings, racking up 21 strikeouts in 13 innings against the Tigers.
Since the White Sox started limiting Rodon’s workload, he has remained fresh and dominant. The White Sox just have too much firepower in this lineup to expect an experienced rookie to shut them down, and he will likely need to with a Cy Young candidate on the other side.
To get a reasonable number to back Chicago at, I will play them to lead after five innings at -140.
Pick: Chicago White Sox -0.5 First Five Innings (-140 or better)
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