Chicago White Sox (57-31) +110, o/u 9 ½ at New York Yankees (50-36), Friday, 7 p.m. Eastern
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
The defending World Champion Chicago White Sox begin the second half of the season with a trip to New York and a three-game series with the Yankees at Yankee Stadium beginning Friday night.
Chicago, despite owning the 2nd-best record in MLB and having won 17 of its’ last 23 games, still sits in second place in the AL Central, 2 ½ games back of the division-leading Detroit Tigers.
New York, winners of 12 of its’ last 18 games, is also in second place, in the AL East, 2 ½ games behind the division-leading Boston Red Sox.
The White Sox are 24-17 on the road this season, and 8-4 as underdogs.
The Yankees are 26-17 at home this year, and 44-29 as favorites.
These two teams split six games last year, all six of which stayed under their posted totals. This is the first encounter between these two teams this season.
Chicago sends All-Star Jose Contreras (9-0, 3.38) to the mound for the series opener Friday night. Contreras did not pitch, however, in the All-Star game on Tuesday, in part because of a sore ankle.
Contreras, despite his perfect record, has been bounced around a bit lately, allowing 9 ER and 29 H+W in his last 18 IP. The ChiSox are 11-5 in Contreras’ starts this year, the over/under 9-6.
Contreras made two starts vs. the Yanks last year, allowing just one ER in 15 innings of work.
Big Unit Johnson (10-7, 5.13) takes the hill Friday for New York. Johnson has given up 11 ER and 22 H+W in his last 20 2/3 IP. The Yankees are 11-8 in Johnson’s starts this year, the o/u 12-7.
Johnson made one start vs. the White Sox last year, giving up 6 ER and 10 hits in 8 IP.
Saturday's game pits Mark Buehrle (9-6, 4.02) for Chicago vs. Mike Mussina (10-3, 3.24) for New York. And on Sunday, Freddy Garcia (10-5, 4.91) goes for the White Sox against Jaret Wright (5-5, 4.23) for the Yanks.
Chicago owns a .354 team OBP this year, 5th-best in the AL, and is averaging 5.9 runs per game.
New York owns a .362 team OBP this season, 2nd-best in the league, and is averaging 5.7 RPG.
The White Sox bullpen ranks 12th in the majors with a 4.06 ERA.
The Yankees pen ranks 7th in MLB with a 3.85 ERA.
New York begins the second half of this season still without OFs Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield and 2B Robinson Cano. OF Johnny Damon has been bothered by a sore oblique muscle recently, but he’s been upgraded and will probably play Friday night.
The o/u is 46-38 in ChiSox games this year, 45-40 in Yankees games, but just 19-23 at Yankee Stadium.
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The Ultimatecapper Pick: We like the Sox tonight.
