PREMIUM
Rogers' Saturday SMACKDOWN Special - 12-6 L18 MLB Sides
(MLB) Oakland vs. Chi White Sox,
Money Line: -198.00 Chi White Sox (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -198.00 Chi White Sox (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The White Sox came out of the gate strong in 2016, going 23-10 through games played by May 9. However, the team has stumbled to a 34-54 (.386) record since then and Chicago now sits 13 1/2 games back of Cleveland in the AL Central, as well as 10 games back (with five teams ahead of them) in the wild card race. The White Sox have now lost 14 of their last 21 games, after a 9-0 blowout defeat in Friday's series opener against Oakland, which at 53-69 (.434), is hardly a quality opponent. In fact, Oakland's a 9-0 victory snapped a five-game losing streak and ‘beating up' on "Big Games James" Shields, is not anything new. Shields is now 3-8 (7.62 ERA) with the White Sox and a combined 5-15 (5.98 ERA) with Chicago and San Diego in 2016!
The pitching matchup: Ross Detwiler (1-1, 4.15 ERA) takes the mound for Oakland, opposed by Chicago's Chris Sale (14-6, 3.30 ERA). Detwiler is a 30-year-old journeyman who began the season with Cleveland Indians before he was designated for assignment. He was signed by Oakland and is 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA in two starts. Detwiler has faced the White Sox only twice in his nine-year career, both in relief. As for Sale, he opened the season 9-0 with a 1.59 ERA but it's hardly been a smooth ride, since. He was the first pitcher to reach 14 wins in MLB but he's stuck on that number, going 0-4 with a 4.43 ERA in his past six starts (team is 1-5).
The pick: Sale's ERA has risen almost two full runs since his 9-0 start and with just five wins (six losses) over his last 14 starts (team is 6-8), it's fair to wonder about just how effective Sale will be down the stretch. However, as manager Robin Ventura noted, "Since he's been starting, this is the best and as strong as he's been later in the season than I've seen him any time. There hasn't been that stretch where, in the past few years, he has definitely needed time off or the velocity has really tailed off." Opposed by journeyman like Detwiler, seems to be "just what the doctor ordered" for Sale. The price is steep, so it's a 6* play on Chicago.
The pitching matchup: Ross Detwiler (1-1, 4.15 ERA) takes the mound for Oakland, opposed by Chicago's Chris Sale (14-6, 3.30 ERA). Detwiler is a 30-year-old journeyman who began the season with Cleveland Indians before he was designated for assignment. He was signed by Oakland and is 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA in two starts. Detwiler has faced the White Sox only twice in his nine-year career, both in relief. As for Sale, he opened the season 9-0 with a 1.59 ERA but it's hardly been a smooth ride, since. He was the first pitcher to reach 14 wins in MLB but he's stuck on that number, going 0-4 with a 4.43 ERA in his past six starts (team is 1-5).
The pick: Sale's ERA has risen almost two full runs since his 9-0 start and with just five wins (six losses) over his last 14 starts (team is 6-8), it's fair to wonder about just how effective Sale will be down the stretch. However, as manager Robin Ventura noted, "Since he's been starting, this is the best and as strong as he's been later in the season than I've seen him any time. There hasn't been that stretch where, in the past few years, he has definitely needed time off or the velocity has really tailed off." Opposed by journeyman like Detwiler, seems to be "just what the doctor ordered" for Sale. The price is steep, so it's a 6* play on Chicago.
