The Chicago White Sox (6-25) take on the St. Louis Cardinals (14-17) Friday in the opener of a 3-game set at Busch Stadium at 8:15 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the White Sox vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Cardinals won 2-1 last year
The White Sox were swept in 3 by the Minnesota Twins Monday through Wednesday after stunningly sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays last weekend. The 3 wins vs. Tampa Bay account for half of their wins on the season. They were competitive against the Twins, however, falling 3-2, 6-5 and 10-5.
The Cards lost 2 of 3 in Detroit, and if we’re being honest, they probably should have been swept. They came from behind late Tuesday to win 2-1, but Detroit’s bullpen had more to do with that. The Cards are 27th with 3.52 runs per game, 26th with a .220 BA, 25th with a .300 OBP and last with 21 homers. This is a series that will provide a turning point one way or another for the Cards.
White Sox at Cardinals projected starters
RHP Brad Keller vs. RHP Sonny Gray
Keller makes his 1st start and 2nd appearance. In the 1 relief outing, he worked a scoreless and hitless 1 2/3 innings with 2 walks and 1 strikeout Monday at home vs. the Twins.
- In 3 starts for Triple-A Charlotte, went 1-1 with 4.50 ERA (16 IP, 8 ER), 1.38 WHIP and 14 K
- Last 5 starts vs. Cardinals: 1-4, 4.82 ERA (28 IP, 15 ER), 1.50 WHIP, 16 BB, 24 K
Gray (3-1, 1.16 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 0.94 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 12.3 K/9 in 23 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 9 K Saturday in 7-4 victory at New York Mets
- Last 5 starts vs. White Sox: 2-1, 3.51 ERA (25 2/3 IP, 10 ER), 1.32 WHIP, 5 BB, 20 K
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White Sox at Cardinals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:48 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): White Sox +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Cardinals -275 (bet $275 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): White Sox +1.5 (+105) | Cardinals -1.5 (-125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
White Sox at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Cardinals 4, White Sox 2
Moneyline
Gray has been better than advertised. If he can stay healthy and this team competes, he could win the Cy Young Award. (He’s +1400 at BetMGM Sportsbook to do so — if interested.) He was limited to 65 and 75 pitches in his first 2 starts coming off a hamstring injury, and he delivered 11 shutout innings with 11 K’s. That is super impressive with no rehab starts.
I fully believe the White Sox win at least 1 this weekend because the Cardinals can’t sweep a series. It won’t be this one, though. The Cards are too expensive solo, so let’s SGP CARDINALS + SONNY GRAY OVER 5.5 K’S (+135).
Run line/Against the spread
Even though the bullpen is massively improved, I’m not betting on this Cardinals offense to cash a RL bet.
PASS.
Over/Under
As mentioned, the Cards offense stinks. The White Sox bats are even worse at 2.87 runs per Game, which is last in baseball. We don’t have a lot of wiggle room with the O/U line of 7.5 here, but it’s slated to be 74 degrees with a 6-mph wind coming in from left-center.
Take UNDER 7.5 (-105).
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