Detroit Tigers (14-12) – Armando Galarraga +102, 9 O/U at Chicago White Sox (12-14) – Mark Buehrle -112, 9 O/U, U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Ill., 8:11 PM EST, Wednesday
by Badger of Predictem.com
Two teams that appear to be heading in opposite directions in the American League Central will throw their most consistent pitchers at each other tonight at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago when the Detroit Tigers send right-hander Armando Galarraga out against White Sox lefty Mark Buehrle.
The Tigers come into the start of tonight’s quick two-game set against the White Sox with some good momentum, winning three of their last four games. Last night they tagged Minnesota starter Nick Blackburn with nine runs in the first four innings and got seven solid innings of four-hit pitching from Rick Porcello in their 9-0 victory over the Twins.
The White Sox will be happy to get back home after a terrible road trip. After taking the first game in Texas, the Sox have since lost four straight including an embarrassing two-game sweep at the hands of the resurgent Kansas City Royals the past two nights. Tuesday night the White Sox pounded out 17 hits and jumped out to a four-run lead early, but they were unable to hold off the Royals who came back to win the game on a game-winning single by Joe Buck in the 11th inning, 8-7.
Baseball oddsmakers opened the game with Buehrle and the White Sox as slim -112 favorites on the moneyline, with the Tigers as just +102 underdogs. The over/under total is listed at 9 at just about every sportsbook that has a total for this game on the board.
The White Sox are not only happy to be back at the “Cell” tonight, but they should be happy to see Buehrle on the bump as well. The Sox have won all five of his starts this season and the southpaw has gone 3-0 with a 3.30 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP and a low .323 opponents’ on-base percentage.
Buehrle’s last three outings have been his best, as he’s won all three allowing just eight runs in 18.2 innings of work. He has been getting knocked around a little (21 hits, 6 walks) but the veteran always seems to wiggle of the hook when he has too. In his last start Buehrle worked six strong frames allowing seven hits and three runs in the White Sox 4-3 victory over Texas last Friday.
Buehrle has been solid in 25 career starts against the AL Central rival Tigers, going 13-8 with a 2.98 ERA and a sub.300 on-base percentage (.295). He does have his troubles with former teammate Magglio Ordonez, as Ordonez is 15-for-28 (.536) lifetime against Buehrle with two doubles and two homeruns. Placido Polanco has also had good success against the Sox lefty, as he is hitting .414 in his career (12-for-29).
Galarraga has been the opposite for the Tigers, as he has struggled of late after rocketing off to a fast start. For the year he is 3-1 with a 3.07 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP and a .339 OBP, but in his last three starts he has given up 18 hits, 11 walks and nine runs in just 16 innings. More importantly, the Tigers have lost two of those three starts, including a 6-5 loss to Cleveland in his last outing when he gave up five runs in five innings.
The one good thing the Tigers and Galarraga have going for them is the righty’s short history against the White Sox, as he was dominate in his only career start against them back on April 15th. In that game Galarraga threw 6.1 innings allowing just four hits and two walks in the Tigers 6-0 shutout victory.
Since he’s only pitched six innings against the Sox in his career there’s not much history to judge him on. Paul Konerko had a hit and a walk in his three at bats in the earlier start this year, Jermaine Dye also had a hit and a walk. For the season the Sox are scoring just 4.42 runs per game (21st in MLB), but they’ve only scored barely over three runs a game during their four game slide (3.05).
The White Sox have had great success against the Tigers at home, holding serve to the tune of a 7-1 record in their last eight games head-to-head at the Cell. The under also has a strong betting trend, as it has cashed in 19 of the last 28 games between the two in Chicago.
Badger’s Pick: Galarraga should pitch with some renewed confidence tonight, as he knows he has done well against the Sox his first time out. Buehrle should be strong as well, which is why I’m going with the under tonight. Plus it could be cool and rainy tonight as well. Take the under of 9 tonight in a game that could be finished in under two hours.
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