White Sox 6/14

[BobbyBlueChip]

Season Record 17-17 +1.93 units

Under 9 -110 2 units

White Sox (Garland) +110 1 unit


I love Sox-Cubs weekend. It?s so much fun being in the city for this and interleague needs to remain for this series alone. As a Sox fan, I would like nothing better than to see ex-Cub prospect Garland get the victory in the opening set. The reason for the turnaround in the Sox starters ERA is directly due to how effective the youngsters Garland and Wright have been in their last few outings. Garland has an ERA of 1.77 and a WHIP of 1.08 in his last three and he will be facing Clements who has an ERA of 2.28 and a WHIP of .85 in his last three. In the last 10 games for each team, the final has gone over 9 just 5 times. As the game is at Wrigley, Thomas will also be on the bench taking the bat out of the third best hitter on their team. Add in the fact that Lofton is still day to day and there is a possibility of two very weak offensive teams taking on two very hot starters.

Both starters should go long into this game, but the edge in the bullpens has to go to the White Sox (one of the rare times) as the Cub bullpen has taken away so many victories from the Cubs? starters already this season. They choke too much when under pressure and this series is the most pressure that they have faced all season. Love the under, like the Sox.

 

[Valuist]

I have to disagree on the bullpens. Farnsworth has only come back recently, and with him and Alfonseca, the Cubs set-up/closer duo is solid; something I can't say about the Chisox. The part of the Cubs bullpen that is bad is their middle relief. I think if they get 7 IP out of Clement, they will be tough. I did hear Sox GM Kenny Williams on the radio yesterday and did seem to emphasize the importance of the first game of the series. I'm not exactly sure why he'd feel the first game is more important than the others, but maybe the adrenaline will be going more for the Sox today. Right now, my only lean is under the total.

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

Actually, Alfonseca is exactly who I?m talking about. In his last 8 appearances, 2 blown saves in 5 attempts and a loss. WHIP of 1.7 over that stretch. Farnsworth has been superb and he is probably the best out of the bullpen on either club. But, I like the Sox chances in the ninth( and beyond) if the game is close.

But from the looks of it outside, this might be a moot point.