White Sox vs. Guardians Odds, Pick
| White Sox Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
+188 | 7.5 -105 / -115 | +1.5 -115 |
| Guardians Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-225 | 7.5 -105 / -115 | -1.5 -105 |
Here's everything you need to know about White Sox vs. Guardians on Monday, April 8 — including odds and a prediction.
Fresh off a sweep in Kansas City, the White Sox have just one win through their first nine games. They are one of just two teams with a lone victory to start the year.
Their biggest loss came on Friday though, when All-Star center fielder Luis Robert landed on the injured list with a hip flexor injury.
Cleveland suffered a big loss of their own with their ace Shane Bieber undergoing season-ending surgery. They will need their other pitchers to step up, especially the one pitching today. The Guardians enter Monday having won four straight games before a day off yesterday due to a rainout.
Let's break down why I'm betting Cleveland on the runline for my White Sox vs. Guardians pick.
Chicago White Sox
It appears the White Sox will roll with a bullpen game on Monday. Chicago has a few options they can use to piece together innings here. We will likely see a heavy dose of middle reliever Tanner Banks. He made a few starts last season and has yet to allow a run in two innings of work this year.
Another option is to call up Jared Shuster from Triple-A Charlotte. Shuster was a first-round pick in 2020 by the Braves and was traded to Chicago during the offseason for Aaron Bummer. Shuster made 11 starts for Atlanta last year and struggled to a 5.81 ERA. In his first Triple-A start of the season, he allowed seven runs, giving up four home runs.
Chicago’s No. 8 ranked prospect, Nick Nastrini is another possible option. He was thought of as an option to make the roster out of spring training as the fifth starter. He also struggled in his first Triple-A outing, allowing four runs in just three innings of work.
Only three hitters on the White Sox posted a wRC+ of at least 105 last season. Jake Burger now plays for the Marlins and Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert are both on the injured list. Not surprisingly, Chicago ranks dead last in wRC+.
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Cleveland Guardians
With Sunday’s rainout, Triston McKenzie’s start got bumped to Monday. He’ll hope it goes better than his season debut against Seattle when McKenzie surrendered five runs in 3 1/3 innings. He walked two batters and struggled with his command.
Understandably, McKenzie might need a few starts to return to form after pitching just four games last season before being shut down with an elbow injury. But McKenzie was brilliant in 2022, posting a 2.96 ERA over 30 starts.
McKenzie uses both a curveball and a slider along with his fastball, and his two breaking pitches are his strength. He threw more sliders than any other pitch in his first start and didn’t allow a hit off it. It was his fastball that got him into trouble. His walk rate was just 5.9% in 2022 so if he can settle down his command, McKenzie should be fine.
Cleveland’s offense has gotten off to a strong start, ranking top 10 in wRC+ to begin the year. We know that Jose Ramirez is a perennial MVP candidate but guys like Steven Kwan, Brayan Rocchio, and Andres Gimenez are hitting the ball really well.
White Sox vs. Guardians
Betting Pick & Prediction
With the uncertainty around the White Sox pitching situation, there are not many lines available for this game, making it difficult to find a betting angle. I wanted to look at the Guardians’ team total, but no line is available as of 10 a.m. ET.
Neither Shuster nor Nastrini looked sharp in their first Triple-A start this year. Whoever does get the start for Chicago will have one of the worst bullpens in the league waiting behind them. They have a bullpen xFIP of 4.82 and K-BB% that ranks in the bottom 10 of the league.
Cleveland’s offense doesn’t have any superstars outside of Ramirez, but they’re solid top to bottom, and they have one of the lowest strikeout rates in the league. They will put the ball in play and make things difficult for the White Sox pitchers.
I would probably stay away from this game given the uncertainty of McKenzie’s form, but if you wanted to play it, just lay the -1.5 with Cleveland. Four of Chicago’s last five losses have come by at least two runs and if McKenzie is able to improve his command from his last outing, he should have no problem with this White Sox offense.
