Chicago White Sox (41-25) -115, 10.5 over/under at Cincinnati Reds (37-29)
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
A pair of second-place teams hook up this weekend when the Chicago White Sox visit the Cincinnati Reds for a 3-game interleague series starting Friday night in the Queen City.
Chicago has won seven of its last 10 games and sits in second place in the AL Central, a game and a half back of the division-leading Detroit Tigers.
Cincinnati needed an 11-inning win over Milwaukee Thursday to end a five games losing streak. The Reds sit in second place in the NL Central, 2 ½ games back of the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals.
The White Sox are 17-15 on the road this season, while Cincinnati is 17-16 at home.
These two teams haven’t met since the 2001 season.
Chicago sends Freddy Garcia (7-4, 5.13) to the mound Friday, while Cincy counters with lefty Brandon Claussen (3-7, 5.28). Both pitchers have struggled lately; Garcia is 0-3 with a 8.10 ERA in his last four starts, while Claussen is 0-3 with a 5.96 in his last four starts.
The ChiSox will go with the solid Jose Contreras (7-0, 2.62) Saturday and the shaky John Garland (5-3, 6.01) on Sunday. The Reds will send lefty Eric Milton (4-3, 4.10) to the hill Saturday and Aaron Harang (7-4, 3.91) Sunday.
Chicago owns a .348 team OBP this season, 5th-best in the AL, and averages 5.4 runs per game.
Cincy owns a .347 team OBP, 3rd-best in the NL, averages 5.2 RPG and leads the majors with 99 HRs. But the Reds have been slowed at the plate lately, scoring just 17 runs over their last five games.
The White Sox bullpen has allowed 4 ER and 9 H+W in its last 11 IP.
The Cincinnati pen has given up 9 ER and 23 H+W in its last 13 1/3 innings of work.
Chicago will have to find a place for slugger Jim Thome to play this weekend, as this interleague series will not use the DH.
The over/under is 32-30 in White Sox games this year, also 32-30 in Reds games, but just 14-16 at Great American Ballpark.
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The Ultimatecapper Pick: We like the over today.
