The Chicago White Sox (6-3) and Cleveland Guardians (4-5) open a four-game series Monday. First pitch at Progressive Field is slated for 7:05 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the White Sox vs. Guardians odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting of the AL Central rivals. Chicage won 10 of 19 meetings in 2021.
The White Sox head to Cleveland after a 4-2 home stand. The Chicago offense took a bit of a downturn over the last several games. The Sox have logged a .468 OPS in averaging 2.50 runs per game in their last 4 games.
Cleveland finished out a season-opening road trip (April 7-13) with 4 straight victories, but has lost 3 consecutive games at home since.
White Sox at Guardians: Projected starters
LHP Dallas Keuchel vs. RHP Shane Bieber
Keuchel (1-0, 5.40 ERA) makes his second start. He has a 1.20 WHIP, 0.0 BB/9, and 9.0 K/9 through 5 IP.
- Notched a 5.28 ERA in 162 IP last season. A 1.61 K/BB ratio was the southpaw’s worst since his 2012 rookie season.
- Pitched 3 games against Cleveland in 2021: 6.61 ERA in 16 1/3 IP.
Bieber (0-0, 2.70 ERA) makes his third start of the season. He has a 0.60 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9, and 8.1 K/9 through 10 IP.
- Registered a 3.17 ERA in 96 2/3 IP last year.
- Had a 1.84 ERA (.415 OPS against) in 4 starts vs. Chicago in 2021.
White Sox at Guardians odds and lines
- Money line: White Sox +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Guardians -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): White Sox +1.5 (-205) | Guardians -1.5 (+165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
White Sox at Guardians picks and predictions
Prediction
Guardians 4, White Sox 3
Money line
Figure Cleveland as being a bit of a value play in general heading into this week. Support figures back the club being over-.500 with some pitching indicators pointing to better days ahead.
The batter/pitcher matchups favor the Bieber side of the equation. And the Guardians bullpen is in decent shape heading into the series.
BACK CLEVELAND (-135).
Run line/Against the spread
PASS: Too much juice to wade through here.
Over/Under
A cold-weather game (temps in the mid-30s) and the pitching set-up here makes for a slight lean on the UNDER 7.5 (-107).