MLB Betting Odds: White Sox Look to Extend Twins' Woes
The White Sox and Twins continue their weekend series at Target Field on Friday night when Chicago's Gavin Floyd takes on Minnesota left-hander Francisco Liriano.
Nothing like jumping right into the thick of one of baseball's playoff races to begin the second half of the season. No, I'm not talking about the Yankees and Rays who open a set in the Bronx this weekend.
The AL Central 'Big 3' isn't get ink like the top trio in the AL East. But the race in the Central is even more crucial since the three teams are fighting for just one October slot while it seems to be a foregone conclusion two of the three in the AL East will advance.
Baseball odds initially opened with the Twins minus 130 favorites before immediately being bet up to the 135-140 range. All early totals agreed on eight with level prices.
The White Sox increased their lead in the AL Central to a full game over Detroit Thursday night with an 8-7 win over Minnesota to open the series. Chicago was a underdog (plus 105) in the game and managed to overcome a six-run second inning barrage by the Twins.
The loss dropped Minnesota 4.5 games behind Chicago in the division, with the Twins also putting All-Star first baseman Justin Morneau (concussion) on the DL after the defeat.
Gavin Floyd (8-10, 4.20) gets the nod for Ozzie Guillen's ChiSox in Game 2. The right-hander has been among the very best AL starters the past six weeks or so with Chicago visiting the pay window his last five assignments. Two of those winning starts came against the Royals with one more at the Nats if you're looking for a weak link to the stretch.
Floyd has lowered his ERA almost two full runs since early June when he had a disastrous outing at home against the Rangers (6 ER, 2 2/3 IP). This will be his first start versus the Twins in 2010, and obviously his first time on the Target Field mound. His two starts against Minnesota in 2009 resulted in a win and a loss for Chicago while Floyd posted a 5.26 ERA in 13 2/3 frames.
Ron Gardenhire will send Francisco Liriano (8-9, 3.86) to the hill. The left-hander enters the game going the opposite direction of Floyd with Minnesota dropping his last five assignments. While Floyd has faced easier lineups, Liriano has taken on the Rockies, Brewers, Tigers (twice) and Rays in that five-game span.
Liriano really got lit up in his most recent trip to the mound in Detroit where he was a 120 underdog. The Tigers chased him before the second inning was over, scoring seven times on six hits and a pair of walks. Detroit (plus 160) also go to him on June 28 here in Minneapolis, scoring six runs in six frames on the way to a 7-5 win. Maybe the Tigers are just getting even for Liriano blanking them over eight innings in Detroit the first time he faced them back in late-April, a 2-0 Minnesota win as very, very small pups.
Jerry Meals will call the plate on Friday. Meals has worked four games this season with totals eight or less; three of the games have gone 'under' with one 'push.'
Minneapolis weathermen are calling for a mighty fine day in the Twin Cities area with clear skies and probably something around 80ºF for a start-time temperature. Winds are presently forecast out of the northwest at 11 mph (3B dugout to RF).
The series is set to continue Saturday when Chicago's Mark Buehrle (10-8, 4.24) is scheduled to face Carl Pavano (11-7, 3.58) of the Twins.
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they started games in the 2010 season.
The White Sox and Twins continue their weekend series at Target Field on Friday night when Chicago's Gavin Floyd takes on Minnesota left-hander Francisco Liriano.
Nothing like jumping right into the thick of one of baseball's playoff races to begin the second half of the season. No, I'm not talking about the Yankees and Rays who open a set in the Bronx this weekend.
The AL Central 'Big 3' isn't get ink like the top trio in the AL East. But the race in the Central is even more crucial since the three teams are fighting for just one October slot while it seems to be a foregone conclusion two of the three in the AL East will advance.
Baseball odds initially opened with the Twins minus 130 favorites before immediately being bet up to the 135-140 range. All early totals agreed on eight with level prices.
The White Sox increased their lead in the AL Central to a full game over Detroit Thursday night with an 8-7 win over Minnesota to open the series. Chicago was a underdog (plus 105) in the game and managed to overcome a six-run second inning barrage by the Twins.
The loss dropped Minnesota 4.5 games behind Chicago in the division, with the Twins also putting All-Star first baseman Justin Morneau (concussion) on the DL after the defeat.
Gavin Floyd (8-10, 4.20) gets the nod for Ozzie Guillen's ChiSox in Game 2. The right-hander has been among the very best AL starters the past six weeks or so with Chicago visiting the pay window his last five assignments. Two of those winning starts came against the Royals with one more at the Nats if you're looking for a weak link to the stretch.
Floyd has lowered his ERA almost two full runs since early June when he had a disastrous outing at home against the Rangers (6 ER, 2 2/3 IP). This will be his first start versus the Twins in 2010, and obviously his first time on the Target Field mound. His two starts against Minnesota in 2009 resulted in a win and a loss for Chicago while Floyd posted a 5.26 ERA in 13 2/3 frames.
Ron Gardenhire will send Francisco Liriano (8-9, 3.86) to the hill. The left-hander enters the game going the opposite direction of Floyd with Minnesota dropping his last five assignments. While Floyd has faced easier lineups, Liriano has taken on the Rockies, Brewers, Tigers (twice) and Rays in that five-game span.
Liriano really got lit up in his most recent trip to the mound in Detroit where he was a 120 underdog. The Tigers chased him before the second inning was over, scoring seven times on six hits and a pair of walks. Detroit (plus 160) also go to him on June 28 here in Minneapolis, scoring six runs in six frames on the way to a 7-5 win. Maybe the Tigers are just getting even for Liriano blanking them over eight innings in Detroit the first time he faced them back in late-April, a 2-0 Minnesota win as very, very small pups.
Jerry Meals will call the plate on Friday. Meals has worked four games this season with totals eight or less; three of the games have gone 'under' with one 'push.'
Minneapolis weathermen are calling for a mighty fine day in the Twin Cities area with clear skies and probably something around 80ºF for a start-time temperature. Winds are presently forecast out of the northwest at 11 mph (3B dugout to RF).
The series is set to continue Saturday when Chicago's Mark Buehrle (10-8, 4.24) is scheduled to face Carl Pavano (11-7, 3.58) of the Twins.
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they started games in the 2010 season.