Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Guardians Betting Picks

Cleveland scored nine runs in each of the last two games, 9-3 on Wednesday and 9-5 on Thursday, and the series is tied at two wins apiece after the White Sox won the first two, 3-0 and 4-3. I had the Guardians on Thursday and cashed. Gavin Williams leads the league with 248 strikeouts in 184.1 innings this season, compared with 185 in 172.1 for Chicago’s Sean Burke, and Williams struck out 11 in five innings in Game 2. Burke’s ERA is lower, 3.34 to 3.76, and Burke held Cleveland to one hit over 5.1 innings in that same game. Williams has the better WHIP, 1.11 to 1.20. Chicago has scored 776 runs this season, fifth in the majors, while Cleveland has scored 678, 24th. In this series, Chicago has scored 15 runs in four games, 3.8 per game, against Cleveland's 4.8 per game over 162. Cleveland’s staff ERA of 3.77 was eighth in the majors, and Chicago’s 4.12 tied for 14th. I’m on Cleveland in Game 5 tonight.

Cleveland scored nine runs Wednesday to win 9-3 in Game 3, after 3-0 and 4-3 losses in Games 1 and 2. Cleveland has outscored Chicago 12-10 across the three games. I had Chicago on the moneyline in Game 1 on Saturday, and it won. Parker Messick takes the ball tonight with a 2.56 ERA over 186.1 innings, five days after he allowed two runs in 4.1 innings in that opener. Chicago lists Hagen Smith, who made 18 appearances and one start this season and threw 21 pitches in relief Wednesday. His longest postseason outing is three innings. Chicago used seven pitchers and threw 178 pitches Wednesday, allowing nine runs. Chicago ranks fifth in runs per game and Cleveland 24th. Cleveland also allows 4.12 runs per game, compared with Chicago's 4.44, and its bullpen ERA of 3.54 ranks sixth in baseball. Cleveland is the play tonight.

The White Sox went to Houston and won both Wild Card games, 6-3 on Tuesday and 7-3 on Wednesday, scoring 13 runs over the two. I had the UNDER in Tuesday's opener, and it lost on that 6-3 Chicago win. Cleveland is the favorite with Parker Messick on the mound, and his 2.56 ERA over more than 186 innings explains why. Chicago starts a left-hander of its own. Hagen Smith gets the ball first after three scoreless innings in Tuesday's opener, and Cleveland posted a .675 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, 27th in baseball. The White Sox posted a .751 OPS against lefties, sixth, and Messick is a left-hander. Chicago also ranks fifth in runs scored and fifth in home runs, while Cleveland ranks 24th and 27th. Cleveland's staff has a 3.77 ERA to Chicago's 4.12, and the visitor's bats still have the edge. Chicago wins this afternoon.