Opening Day is finally here with Sunday’s American League Central clash between Cleveland and Chicago. The White Sox exercised some demons last season by capturing their first World Series crown since 1997, while the Indians begin search for their first crown since 1948.


Chicago didn’t rest on its laurels during the offseason, acquiring power-hitter Jim Thome from Philadelphia, grabbing pitcher Javier Vazquez from Arizona while also resigning slugger Paul Konerko. However, the slate starts clean with a brand-new 162-game schedule that will last all the way til October.

The White Sox captured the AL Central title last year compliments of a 99-63 record, going 47-34 on their home field. Cleveland finished six games back of the eventual champions at 93-69, including a solid 50-31 road ledger.

The Indians pin their Opening Day hopes on southpaw C.C. Sabathia, hoping he can duplicate his 15-10 record and 4.03 ERA from last year in 31 starts. The 25-year-old was 0-1 against Chicago last year in two starts, going a combined 11 2/3 innings while yielding six runs on 11 hits with five walks and 13 strikeouts.

The Indians triumphed as a $1.41 road underdog, 6-4, while falling as a $1.10 home ‘chalk,’ 7-1. Sabathia can boast a 10-4 road record and 4.05 ERA last year in 16 outings, including a stellar 10-2 ledger in night games.

Chicago gives the starting nod to Mark Buehrle, hoping the left-hander can continue where he left off after going 16-8 with a 3.12 ERA last year in 33 starts

The seven-year veteran squared off against Cleveland five times in 2005, going 2-0 by surrendering a combined nine runs on 24 hits (four home runs) with six walks and 29 strikeouts. The White Sox triumphed as a $1.24 home favorite, 1-0, a road ‘pick,’ 7-5, a $1.28 home ‘chalk,’ 7-6, and a $1.85 road underdog, 3-2, while falling as a $1.51 home favorite, 6-4.

Buehrle also went a solid 10-2 in 17 home starts last year, with a 2.48 ERA encompassing 127 innings.