MLB Baseball
2012-07-24 - Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Tuesday 24 July 2012 - First Pitch 8:10pm ET
1:10am (British Standard Time)
Preview
The Chicago White Sox (51-45) have not been enjoying the best of forms in recent games and that has seen them relinquish their place at the top of the American League Central to the Detroit Tigers who they trail by 1 game. They took game one of this series against the last place team in the Division, the Minnesota Twins (40-56) and they will be looking to complete a sweep and keep tabs with the Tigers.
Chicago had lost five games in a row before winning 7-4 last night in what was their first home game since the All-Star break. On the other hand, Minnesota continue to struggle and are now just 4-9 in their last thirteen games.
Jose Quintana will be given the ball and will be hoping for more run support after he missed getting another win last week against the Boston Red Sox thanks to a bullpen collapse as well as the lack of runs scored.
The rookie is 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA this season but his record could have been so much better if he had been provided with some runs. To put that into perspective, Quintana has allowed 2 runs or fewer in eight of his ten starts, but he has only been given more than 2 runs in four of those starts.
Minnesota will counter with Cole De Vries who has a 2-2 record and a 3.95 ERA this season and he is coming off a performance where he allowed just one run in 6 innings pitched. De Vries has not thrown more than 96 pitches in any of his starts this season so far, but that looks like it will be changing and he will be given extended time from now on.
The pitcher made his season debut against Chicago and he gave up six runs, three earned, in just over 5 innings pitched as the Twins were beaten 11-8.
Head to Head
Chicago lead the 2012 season series 5-2 so far and they are to meet eleven more times.
The White Sox have won the last 3 home games against Minnesota, and they are 6-3 in the last nine here against their Divisional rivals.
Chicago are 25-22 at home this season, Minnesota are 21-26 on the road.
Prediction
The Chicago White Sox have been struggling since the All-Star break, but the return to their home field seems to have rejuvenated them if the performance last night is anything to go by.
They have the edge on the mound today and I think Jose Quintana has been pitching well enough to restrict the Minnesota Twins and that should allow the White Sox to win this game by a couple of runs at the least.
Minnesota have had a disappointing season and have had a tough time against the White Sox in the season series. Cole De Vries had a tough time the first time he faced the White Sox and he may find it hard to hang in a pitching duel with Quintana, while the bullpen has been working overtime of late and won't want to be used extensively today.
The Pick :
Chicago White Sox 4-1 Minnesota Twins
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Chicago White Sox - 1.5 Runs @ 2.10
