White Sox Closes Series Against Royals as MLB Betting Favorites

Posted by Michael Hunt on Tuesday,April 25, 2017 9:42, EDT in

MLB News, Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

It’s a matinee start from the North Side of Chicago on Wednesday when the AL Central rival Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox close out their series. Can White Sox ace Jose Quintana get his first win of the season? He should be a slight MLB betting favorite to do so.

Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox MLB Betting Preview & Pick

What’s up, Chicago? pic.twitter.com/H2E4ly3Zj7

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 24, 2017

When: Wednesday, April 26, 2:10 PM ET
Where: Guaranteed Rate Field, 2:10 PM ET
Probable pitchers (away/home): Nathan Karns/Jose Quintana
TV: MLB Network
Radio: Kansas City / Chicago
Stream Option: MLB.tv
Opening MLB Lines: White Sox favored by TBA

Why Bet On Kansas City?

The Royals are likely happy to be out of Texas as they were swept in a four-game series at Arlington over the weekend for the second time in as many years (also, July 28–31, 2016). Dating back to July 23, 2016, they’ve lost 10 straight games vs. the Rangers. In 49 seasons, the Royals have had just five losing streaks vs. an opponent that lasted longer than their current skid vs. Texas. The longest is 23 straight losses vs. Baltimore from May 10, 1969-Aug. 2, 1970 (Major League record).

Entering this week, the Royals had scored just 46 runs in 18 games. In 2015, they scored 51 runs in 16 playoff games — just from the 7th inning on. The Royals enter this series still in possession of the top ERA for starting staffs around Major League Baseball with a 2.48 mark. The quintet of Jason Hammel, Danny Duffy, Jason Hammel, Jason Vargas and Nate Karns have given the Royals a distinct edge for second- place Texas (3.04). The Royals have also recorded quality starts in eight of their last 10 outings and top the American League with 12 this season, four behind Washington (16) for the Major League lead.

It’s Karns (0-1, 6.35) on the mound for this one. Karns was knocked around for six runs over 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Rangers on Friday. The long ball really hurt him in this one, as Joey Gallo and Robinson Chirinos each hit a pair of home runs. Karns fanned six and walked three in the loss. It was quite a contrast to his first two starts, as he allowed two runs combined in 11 2/3 innings.

Karns has struggled with his command this year: “If I can just challenge hitters, get early contact, that’s big. In the past I maybe got caught up trying to put too many hitters away. I have a great defense and I’m just trying to use them as much as I can.”

Why Bet On Chicago?

Could the White Sox soon be trading closer David Robertson? Entering this week, Robertson sports a terrific 1.35 ERA and 12/3 K/BB ratio through 6 2/3 innings on the season and has converted each of his first four save opportunities. The Nationals are known to be interested and while they believe Koda Glover can be their long-term answer at closer, they aren’t sure he’s ready right now.

The White Sox are struggling offensively and so is one of their young cornerstone players, shortstop Tim Anderson. Anderson, who was the White Sox’s first-round draft pick in 2013 from East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss., has gotten off to a slow start this year following a solid rookie season. He is hitting just .179/.203/.254 with 1 home run and 1 stolen base in 16 games. In 2016, he played in 99 games and batted .283/.306/.432 with 9 homers, 10 steals and 6 defensive runs saved. The White Sox are so confident he will be a long-term anchor in the middle of the infield that they signed him to a six-year, $25 million contract in spring training.

The Sox go with ace lefty Jose Quintana (0-4, 6.17) here. Quintana allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six over six innings in Friday’s 3-0 loss to Cleveland. It was Quintana’s second quality start of the season, but with Corey Kluber shutting down the White Sox bats en route to his fourth career shutout, the lefty was doomed to take another loss. His 6.17 ERA and 1.54 WHIP are well shy of what was expected of Quintana coming into the season, and his struggles can’t even be chalked up to bad luck — his .293 BABIP is actually below his career mark.

Quintana has received 0 runs of support in his last three starts and 2 total this season. He has lost five consecutive starts dating back to 2016, marking the longest losing streak of his career. He has a 5.52 ERA in the 29 1/3 innings in that streak.