White Sox vs. Angels MLB Odds, Picks, Predictions: Back Kopech & Chicago (Wednesday, June 29)
Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images. Pictured: Michael Kopech.
- The Chicago White Sox look to put up double-digit runs again when they face the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.
- The White Sox send Michael Kopech to the mound, while the Angels counter with Shohei Ohtani.
- Check out Kenny Ducey's full betting guide and breakdown below.
White Sox vs. Angels Odds
| White Sox Odds | +170 |
| Angels Odds | -200 |
| Over/Under | 7.5 (-115 / -105) |
| Time | 9:38 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds via bet365. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
The White Sox and Angels are both in the midst of disappointing seasons, but both have started to find some life with two wins in the last three games.
The two teams will throw some incredibly talented pitchers in Wednesday's rubber match. Should we turn to the total in that case, or does one team have the upper hand?
White Sox Raking At the Plate
It's hard to take issue with anything that Chicago is doing at the plate right now.
It ranks fifth in wRC+ over the last two weeks with a solid 22% strikeout rate, and while its batting average on balls in play is quite high at .360, it makes sense given the 40.1% hard-hit rate and 8.3% barrel rate Chicago carries into this game.
The White Sox have had their struggles at the plate over the weeks, but it sure would seem like those are turning around given what we just covered. An 11-run outburst on Wednesday is likely the result of some luck turning around for Chicago.
Michael Kopech will get the ball here for the White Sox, and he'll be glad to see the Angels on the other side of this matchup. His strikeout numbers have been fleeting of late, but he did sit down six Angels in four relief innings last season across two appearances.
His numbers this season are also decently solid, and despite owning a 3.51 xERA, his xwOBA on contact is a low .346. His main issue has been walks, issuing a free pass in 11.6% of plate appearances.
Angels Turn to Ohtani
The Angels will be starting some guy you've probably heard of before: Shohei Ohtani.
All the right-hander has done this season is improve his strikeout rate to a career-best 33% — a number that sits in the top 7% of the league — and post a 2.90 ERA with a 2.83 xERA.
The righty has still allowed a lot of loud contact with his xwOBA on contact sitting at .390, but all of those strikeouts coupled with a 5.9% walk rate have brought his real-life and expected ERA down.
In terms of the offense, well, there isn't really much to get excited about here for the Halos.
They're down in 24th place when it comes to wRC+ in the last two weeks. While their barrel rate during that time is a spicy 10%, the Angels have struck out in 25.2% of plate appearances. It doesn't really do much good if hitters can't put the bat on the ball.
It's also worth noting that L.A. is still without Anthony Rendon, making this lineup even more unattractive.
White Sox-Angels Pick
Call me crazy, but I think the White Sox are incredibly undervalued here.
Kopech may have struggled in his last two outings, but one came against the mighty Astros and another came against the Orioles, who have really hit the ball well.
The young right-hander's ability to miss bats (his strikeout rate is down but still above average) will do him wonders here against a team that just hasn't made contact with the baseball.
On the other side of things, I think the White Sox's ability to hit the ball hard and register barrels will lead them to a solo shot or two against Ohtani in what could be a low-scoring game.
Pick: White Sox ML +170
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