MLB Betting – White Sox Keep It Hot

The White Sox entered the All-Star break as one of baseball’s hottest teams, supplanting the Tigers at the top of the AL Central. Now they’re in Minnesota to try and create room between them and the third-place Twins.

MLB Game Odds:
Chicago White Sox +120
Gavin Floyd – (R)
Minnesota Twins -140
Francisco Liriano – (L)

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Run Line:
White Sox +1.5 -175
Twins -1.5 +155

Total:
8 O +105
8 U -125

Location: Target Field – Minneapolis, MN
Game Time: Friday, July 16th, 2010 – 8:10 PM EST
TV: CSN, FSNO

The Week That Was: White Sox

Chicago couldn’t have ended the first half on a better note. Before last weekend’s three game set with Kansas City, the Sox had won five straight and six of their last seven. Those numbers would improve after the Sox were able to sweep the Royals out of the South Side and take first place in the AL Central.

It was all Chicago, all weekend against the Royals. Mark Buehrle pitched a gem in the opener, allowing zero runs in seven innings; the White Sox won 8-2. More great pitching followed in a 5-1 Chicago win the next day. Starter Gavin Floyd allowed just a single run in 7 2/3 innings, and also struck out four.

But the big game came on Sunday, when Chicago crushed Kansas City 15-5. Carlos Quentin had two home runs, including a grand slam. Andruw Jones also hit a long ball, the 400th of his career. Chicago is now a season-best 11 games over .500.

The Week That Was: Twins

Minnesota began last week in the middle of what would become a four-game losing streak. After dropping two in Toronto, the Twins cross the border to Detroit where they would subsequently lose the opener of a three-game set 7-3. Jason Kubel had two RBI’s to provide the bulk of the offense for Minnesota. The fourth straight loss came the next night when the Tigers beat the Twins 7-4. Detroit hit four home runs off of Twins starter Nick Blackburn, who only last four innings after giving up all seven Tiger runs.

Minnesota finally ended the slide in the series finale, doubling up on Detroit 6-3. Carl Pavano helped stop the bleeding after pitching 7 2/3 innings, allowing just three runs and striking out six. A two-run double by Michael Cuddyer in the fifth proved to be the difference maker.

The Matchup

Gavin Floyd has been pitching better as of late than he has all season. He hasn’t lost since June 13th, and in six of his last seven starts he’s allowed one run or less (in that seventh start he allowed just two runs). Durability and control has also been a contributing factor in Floyd’s recent success. His walks are down, as is his pitch count, which is allowing him to pitch deeper into games. He hasn’t gone less than six full innings in seven straight starts.

Conversely, Francisco Liriano has been struggling; the lefty is 0-4 in his last five starts. His latest start was his worst in a long time, as he allowed seven runs and lasted only 1 2/3 innings. But even if Liriano was pitching better it may not have even mattered. The White Sox are streaking like no other team right now and it doesn’t look like they’re stopping anytime soon.

MLB Betting Pick: Chicago White Sox