The Chicago White Sox (15-14, 8-7 home) welcome the New York Yankees (22-8, 8-4 away) to the Windy City for game one of a four-game series to close out the week. The series opener between the two American League foes will be the first meeting of the season.
Thursday’s first pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. EST at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL. The White Sox are favored on the moneyline (-145), and the over-under total is eight runs.
What to Know – New York Yankees
The Yankees head to Chicago winners of their last three games and four of their last five. New York sports the best record in baseball and has a four-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.
Right-hander Luis Gil is expected to make his season debut on the mound for the Yankees. The 23-year-old will make a spot-start for New York after being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Gil was off to a rough start in Triple-A with an 0-3 record, 9.53 ERA, and 1.76 WHIP through five starts.
Outfielder Aaron Judge powers the Yankees’ offense with ten home runs and 22 runs driven in. Judge has gotten at least one hit in seven of the first nine contests in May. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton also have driven in 22 runs apiece for New York.
New York’s offense generates 4.5 runs per game and ranks 13th in the majors with a .237 team batting average. The Yankees’ pitching staff is second in the majors and top in the AL with a 2.60 team earned run average.
What to Know – Chicago White Sox
Chicago also carries momentum into the final series of a seven-game homestand, winning seven of its last eight. The White Sox series finale against the Cleveland Guardians was postponed yesterday after a COVID-19 outbreak within the Guardians organization. Chicago sits in the second place in the AL Central, 2.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins.
The expected starter for Chicago is righty Vincent Velasquez (2-2, 3.97 ERA, 1.37 WHIP). Velasquez has been sharp over his last two starts, surrendering only one earned run over 10.2 innings on the mound. The 29-year-old has made five starts this season, firing 22.2 innings, scattering 22 hits, ten earned runs, with 21 strikeouts.
Shortstop Tim Anderson continues to be a presence in the batter’s box for Chicago. The 2021 All-Star and former AL batting champion is fourth in the majors, hitting .347 with four home runs and 12 RBI. Outfielder Luis Roberts has added four long balls and nine driven in with 15 runs scored.
Chicago’s offense is 22nd in the MLB with a .225 team batting average, scoring 3.5 runs per game. The White Sox pitchers are fifth in the league with a 3.14 team ERA.
The Pick is In
Two teams riding recent winning trends battle in a game on Thursday night. Gil has the raw talent to be a major league contributor, but the young pitcher hasn’t found the command yet to be a mainstay in New York. The White Sox offense plates enough runs early to get ahead of the visitors and use their solid bullpen for a series-opening victory.
Betting Pick: Chicago White Sox ML
