Chicago White Sox (72-48) PK, o/u 10 at Minnesota Twins (70-50), 7:10 Central Friday
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
The defending World Series champion Chicago White Sox head north to take on the Minnesota Twins for a key three-game intra-divisional series beginning Friday night at the Metrodome.
Chicago just split four games with the last-place Kansas City Royals to cap off a 7-4 homestand. The White Sox sit in second place in the American League’s Central Division, 6 ½ games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers.
Minnesota lost to the Cleveland Indians Thursday 3-2, snapping a three-game Twins winning streak. Minnesota occupies third place in the AL Central, 8 ½ games back of Detroit.
Chicago sits atop the AL wild-card standings, two games ahead of the Twins.
The White Sox are 31-25 on the road this season, while Minnesota owns the best home record in the majors at 42-19.
These two teams have split 10 games so far this season, and nine of those games have gone over the posted totals.
Freddy Garcia (11-7, 4.78) takes the mound for Chicago in the series opener Friday night. Garcia has allowed 10 ER and 28 H+W in his last 20 2/3 IP. The White Sox are 15-9 in Garcia’s starts this season, the o/u 12-10.
Garcia has made five starts vs. the Twins this year and last, giving up 10 ER and 35 H+W in 36 1/3 innings of work.
Minnesota will give rookie Boof Bonser (2-4, 5.56) the start Friday night. Bonser has made nine starts this season, but just two since July 4. He’s allowed 7 ER and 15 H+W in his last 9 2/3 IP. The Twins, a team that is 20 games over .500, are just 3-6 in Bonser’s starts this year, the o/u also 3-6.
This will be Bonser’s first career start vs. the White Sox.
Chicago ranks 6th in the AL with a .347 team OBP, and is averaging 5.7 runs per game.
Minnesota owns a .350 team OBP, 4th-best in the league, and is averaging 5.0 RPG.
The White Sox bullpen has allowed 6 ER and 22 H+W in its last 13 IP.
The Twins pen has limited opponents to just 2 ER and 13 H+W in its last 14 1/3 IP.
The o/u is 62-53 in Chicago games this season, 58-58 in Minnesota games, and 33-26 at the Metrodome.
The Ultimatecapper Pick: The Twins are playing some off the hook ball at the baggy, but Boof Bonser is suspect. Freddy Garcia has had some nice success against the Twinkies, we're siding with him in this bout.
