The Toronto Blue Jays (27-20, 14-8 home) open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox (23-23, 12-10 away) on Tuesday night. The series opener will be the first time these two AL foes will face off against each other this season.
Tuesday’s first pitch is slated for 7:10 p.m. EST inside the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Blue Jays are favored on the moneyline (-175), and the over-under total is 7.5 runs.
What to Know – Chicago White Sox
The White Sox continue their up and down season with a 5-5 record over their last ten games. Chicago’s maintained its spot in second place in the AL Central, just 4.5 games behind the leading Minnesota Twins.
Chicago will lean on expected starter righty Lucas Giolito (3-1, 2.63 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) to navigate Toronto’s powerful lineup. Giolito’s been lights out on the mound in May, picking up victories in three of four starts. The 27-year-old former All-Star statline this season includes seven appearances, 37.2 innings of work, 11 earned runs on 33 hits, 15 walks, with 51 strikeouts.
The White Sox offense will need to cover for the loss of shortstop Tim Andeson who’s headed to the injured list with a groin injury. Anderson’s hitting .356 with five home runs, 19 runs driven in, 24 runs scored through 40 games. Jose Abreu and Andrew Vaughn pace the White Sox with 20 RBI apiece.
Chicago hits .233 as team, 21st in the MLB, and average 3.6 runs per game. The White Sox pitching staff is 18th in the league with a 4.00 earned run average.
What to Know – Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto enters the final days of May on a five-game winning streak and winners of seven of its last ten contests. The Blue Jays sit in third in the AL East, 5.5 games back of the top spot.
On the mound for the hosts is right-hander Kevin Gausman (4-3, 2.25 ERA, 1.04 WHIP). Gausman has been excellent in his first season with the Blue Jays and is coming off a shutout performance in his last start. In 2022, the 31-year-old has pitched 56.0 innings, surrendering 14 earned runs, 53 hits, five walks, with 65 strikeouts.
Offensively, the Blue Jays have leaned on George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. over the first two months of action. Springer and Guerrero are tied with a team-high nine home runs each, and Springer has driven in a team-best 26 RBI.
The Blue Jays are 14th in the majors with a .237 team batting average and produce 3.9 runs per game. Toronto’s pitching staff ranks 9th in the MLB, backed by a 3.62 team ERA.
The Pick is In
Two of the top pitchers in the AL go head-to-head in the series opener Tuesday night. Both lineups will be a challenge for the starters, but the Blue Jays are riding high after sweeping their slate of games last week.
We’ll ride with the hot team on their home turf.
Betting Pick: Toronto Blue Jays ML
