White Sox vs Rangers Odds
| White Sox Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
+250 | 8.5 -115 / -105 | +1.5 +120 |
| Rangers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
| -325 | 8.5 -115 / -105 | -1.5 -145 |
Two offseasons ago, the Texas Rangers decided they were going to build a winning team. They went out and made two big splashes by signing Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, then followed it up with a massive signing this offseason when they inked Mets ace Jacob deGrom.
Unfortunately, deGrom suffered another season-ending injury, but it has not slowed the Rangers. They have remained at the top of the AL West and were aggressive buyers at the deadline. They went out and secured another Mets ace in Max Scherzer, and he makes his Texas debut this afternoon.
The future Hall of Famer will toe the slab against a Chicago White Sox team that has disappointed this season but still has some young talent that they'll showcase moving forward.
So, what's the best way to bet on Max Scherzer's Texas debut? Let's take a closer look to find out.
Chicago White Sox
This White Sox were pegged to be sellers at the deadline, and while rumors were swirling about the likes of Tim Anderson and Dylan Cease, Jake Burger was the only hitter dealt. However, you could make the argument that Burger was the team's best hitter, as he broke out and made loads of loud contact.
His departure leaves a big hole in the middle of this White Sox order, and there are not many candidates to fill it. The potential is certainly there in this lineup, but we have not seen their talent provide any consistency.
Chicago enters this matchup 27th in wOBA and 26th in xwOBACON. So not only are the White Sox not getting on base, but they are not making the type of contact that warrants any positive regression.
Getting on base will be a whole lot harder this afternoon as they face Max Scherzer. Max accepted the deal to Texas because he wants to win, and the 39-year-old showed on many occasions that he can still deliver dominant outings.
Scherzer has looked much better over the last few months and is due for some significant positive regression. Look for that to come to fruition against the White Sox.
Texas Rangers
While the Rangers have made big splashes in order to improve their starting pitching over the last few seasons, the big reason for their success is their lineup. As mentioned, the signings of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien were just the start, as this Rangers organization has seen plenty of home-grown talent flourishing at the big-league level.
The Rangers enter this matchup leading the majors in batting average and are second in wOBA. They have proven to be one of the most formidable lineups in the league, and they will remain one to come.
However, they may not get things going early as Chicago's starter, Touki Toussaint, has been solid since being recalled. Toussaint has a 3.50 ERA across five starts and nine appearances overall. He's done a great job of limiting hard contact, which may be a recipe for success against the Rangers.
However, after Toussaint departs, this game could blow wide open. The White Sox bullpen has been roughed up this season as they have a collective ERA of 4.64, which is good for 25th in the majors.
White Sox vs Rangers Betting Pick
This is a great matchup for Max Scherzer to make an excellent first impression on the Ranger faithful. The White Sox have not put it together at the plate, and if Scherzer can command his slider, he could wipe out multiple White Sox.
On the other side, this Rangers lineup has been tearing the cover off the ball, and it may only be a matter of time till they put up a crooked number in this one. Take the Rangers to cover the spread this afternoon.
Pick: Rangers -1.5 (-125) |
