MLB Baseball
2013-06-19 - Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: MLB Baseball
Wednesday 19 June 2013 - First Pitch 8:10pm
1:10am (British Time)
Preview
Both the Chicago White Sox (29-39) and the Minnesota Twins (31-36) are unlikely to trouble the leaders in the American League Central this season, but this series could determine which of the sides will be sitting in the basement of the Division. Minnesota bashed the White Sox up to take the first game of this three game set, but Chicago will feel confident that their pitcher can help change their fortunes in this one.
However, Chicago will need some help from the batting lineup if Chris Sale is going to get back into the win column. Sale is 5-5 with 2.43 ERA and that means his stats have him in the upper category of ERA and opponent's batting average in the American League.
Unfortunately, Sale has only been backed by an average of 2.74 runs per contest and that means he is 0-3 in his last three starts, even though he has a very strong 2.11 ERA. Sale has also dominated the Minnesota Twins and he has won all three starts in this series while giving up 2 runs in 20 innings pitched against them.
Minnesota will counter by sending Kevin Correia to the mound with his 5-4 record and his 3.97 ERA for the season. However, the pitcher is 2-3 with a 5.36 ERA in his last eight starts for the Twins, although Correia is coming off a decent outing when he allowed just one run in 5 innings pitched against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Correia gave up four runs in 7 innings pitched against the White Sox earlier this season, although that is his only appearance against them.
Head to Head
Minnesota are leading the season series 4-2 thanks to their win last night.
However, the Twins are 2-2 at home and they are just 3-9 in their last 12 at home against the Chicago White Sox.
Prediction
Chris Sale has been unfortunate to be riding a three game losing run and I think he can pitch well enough to get out of that slump in this one. In fact, it hasn't been Sale's issue but a poor batting response to help him but Chicago did get after Kevin Correia earlier this season.
There have been some signs that the White Sox are finding their form at the plate and I like them to square this series up.
The Pick :
Minnesota Twins 2-3 Chicago White Sox
