The Cleveland Guardians start an early week series against the Chicago White Sox in a battle of a pitching mismatch.
Shane Bieber is beginning to build a formidable Cy Young case, posting a 2.61 ERA through over 51 innings that spans across eight starts. The Guardians right hander will face the White Sox lineup that has sputtered this season and are leaning on Lance Lynn to hold it down on the mound, but he is far from his best anymore, posting a 7.51 ERA thus far.
Can Lynn find his form, or will his diminishing control plague him again? Let's get to the odds and find the best bet for this AL Central matchup:
Guardians vs. White Sox odds, run line and total
Guardians vs. White Sox prediction and pick
This line has been held at a near pick 'em due to the Guardians struggles at the plate. Cleveland is hitting just .228 as a team this season and are dead last in wRC+, which generates the quality of run scoring chances the team generates.
However, I still fancy the team's chances against Lynn and the lowly White Sox, who aren't much better at the plate, hitting .237 as a unit and are 25th in wRC+.
The pitching matchup is too great to justify this price, though.
Bieber has been working his way through opposing lineups with ease so far this season, he hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in a start this season and has pitched into the sixth inning in all eight starts. It's worth noting that the Guardians are 3-5 in his starts overall, but I still like the team's chances against Lynn, who seems to be well past his best days.
The South Siders are 1-7 overall in Lynn's starts and he has allowed at least four runs in all but two starts this season.
If you needed anymore convincing, the White Sox bolster the worst bullpen in baseball this season in terms of ERA as a unit.
Give me Cleveland at a short price to get it done on the road.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
