Toronto Blue Jays vs. Chicago White Sox: Odds, Prediction
-
admin
Betting Analysis
After three games on the South Side of Chicago, Toronto goes to Detroit for three games and then the All-Star break. The White Sox have been pretty big disappointments under first-year manager Pedro Grifol as it’s a talented roster that should not be well under .500. The pitching staff has been a major problem at times, and I’d expect the Sox to ship out some guys at the Trade Deadline if they still are out of playoff contention.
The White Sox were swept three games at Rogers Centre from April 24-26 by a combined score of 20-2. It might have been the best series the Jays have played all season. The White Sox were held scoreless in consecutive games (the final two) for the first time since April 21 and 22, 2017, against Cleveland. Bo Bichette was 5-for-12 with a homer and three RBIs in the first series for Toronto, while Danny Jansen was 3-for-8 with two homers, four RBIs and three runs scored. Chicago’s most talented hitter, Luis Robert, was 1-for-11 with eight strikeouts.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto was swept over the weekend three games at home by the Red Sox, losing each of the final two by a single run. It was the fourth time the Jays were swept this year. They are now 7-20 vs. the AL East. The off day Monday was needed to reset the bullpen a bit.
Outfielder George Springer is batting .357 with two homers and eight RBIs over his past 14 games. It’s Chris Bassitt (8-5, 4.06 ERA) on the mound Tuesday – his 2014 rookie season was spent with the White Sox. Bassitt had been struggling a bit of late but turned that around last Thursday with six shutout innings vs. the Giants. That was at home, though, while Bassitt is 4-4 with a 5.89 ERA on the road. He allowed two runs over 6.1 innings on April 24 vs. the White Sox and is 3-2 with a 3.77 ERA career against them in 31 innings. Tim Anderson is 4-for-11 off him with two doubles. Andrew Benintendi is 3-for-5 with a homer. The Jays are 2-9 in their past nine vs. teams with a losing record.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox don’t draw very well because their stadium isn’t in the best location in Chicago, but it will be a sellout surely on Tuesday with the July 4 holiday and a fireworks show. Outfielder Oscar Colas, one of the team’s top prospects, will be recalled from Triple-A Charlotte prior to this game. Colas was sent down by the White Sox in late April after he batted just .211/.265/.276 in his first 25 games but has been hitting well in the minors since.
We noted above that the team is likely to be seller at the Trade Deadline barring a turnaround and one guy who would bring a nice haul back is Tuesday’s starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (6-5, 3.53 ERA), a free agent this winter who would look good in a Blue Jays uniform. Giolito is 2-1 with a 2.32 ERA and 39 strikeouts over his last five starts. He is 2-2 with a 5.91 ERA in six career starts against Toronto. Bo Bichette is 3-for-8 off him with a double and homer. Alejandro Kirk is 4-for-9 with three homers. Chicago is 5-2 in its past seven following an off day.
TOR
CHW