by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Sep 11, 2021
Game time: 2:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Where to watch: NESN, NBCSCH, TBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: White Sox -160, Red Sox +140
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: NL
Season record (entering Saturday)
Red Sox: 80-63 (2nd place, AL East)
White Sox: 81-60 (1st place, AL Central)
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Red Sox - White Sox preview and analysis
Recent form
Red Sox: 5-5 in last 10
White Sox: 6-4 in last 10
The Battle of the Sox will conclude on Sunday when the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox wrap up their three-game series in Chicago.
Chicago got the series off to a solid start on Friday, returning home for the first time in over a week. Jose Abreu’s three-run in the bottom of the third, as well as Luis Robert’s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, was all the offense the White Sox needed in the 4-3 win.
The Red Sox got back into it with two runs in the top of the seventh, but by then, Carlos Rodon had already done his work. The White Sox star allowed only one earned run on three hits while striking out seven over five innings. Rodon is 3-0 since returning from the IL (shoulder fatigue) on Aug. 26. He’s gone five innings in each start, allowing only four runs while striking out 15 (2.40 ERA).
Chicago has been able to stay atop the American League Central without shortstop and leadoff hitter extraordinaire Tim Anderson in the lineup. Anderson, the White Sox’s top hitter, has been dealing with hamstring issues with the hope of returning soon.
Fortunately, the White Sox have been coasting for the last month and a half, now leading 11 games on the Cleveland Indians for first place in the division as September turns to its second week.
The Red Sox have yet to name a starting pitcher for this game, but every baseball contest from this point on has got to be seen as paramount. Boston holds the top spot in the American League Wild Card race, with the New York Yankees trailing by a game. The Toronto Blue Jays, who recently swept the Yankees in a four-game set, have rallied to within a half-game of the Yankees and 1.5 games of Boston.
Tanner Houck went only 3.2 innings on Friday, allowing three earned runs by way of Abreu’s homer, and only one strikeout on 70 pitches. Xander Bogaerts led the way with a 2-for-3 day and a walk, and Bobby Dalbec continued his great season with his 21st home run of the campaign.
Boston has lost four of five after winning four straight, putting the 2-4 spots in the American League East as must-see TV for the last few weeks of the regular season.
Prediction
With Chris Sale going on Saturday and likely to rebound after his rough outing against Tampa Bay, the White Sox tend to play up to their competition at home. A series win will feel good for Chicago as it inches closer to a division title. White Sox win 5-4.
Betting trends
The Red Sox are 11-11 (4.2 net games) when an underdog between +125 and +175.
The White Sox are 39-24 when favored by -150 or more.
Key injuries
Red Sox: LF J.D. Martinez (day-to-day), RP Matt Barnes (COVID)
White Sox: SS Tim Anderson (hamstring, 10-day IL), SP Lucas Giolito (hamstring, day-to-day)
Players to watch
Red Sox: Bobby Dalbec continues to be one of Boston’s better hitters in the second half of the season. The third baseman has batted .356 in the last 13 games with seven homers and 18 RBI.
White Sox: Jose Abreu’s power has gone quiet outside of Friday night, but the former MVP continues to get on base with a .294 average and an OBP of .385.
Projected lineup
Red Sox:
Enrique Hernandez (R) CF
Kyle Schwarber (L) DH
Hunter Renfroe (R) RF
Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
Rafael Devers (L) 3B
Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B
Christian Vazquez (R) C
Danny Santana (S) LF
Jose Iglesias (R) 2B
White Sox:
Luis Robert (R) CF
Yoan Moncada (S) 3B
Jose Abreu (R) 1B
Eloy Jimenez (R) DH
Yasmani Grandal (S) C
Gavin Sheets (L) LF
Leury Garcia (S) SS
Brian Goodwin (L) RF
Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
Probable starting pitchers: TBD (BOS) vs. Lance Lynn (CWS)
Statistical leaders
Red Sox:
Batting average: Xander Bogaerts (.301)
Hits: J.D. Martinez (146)
Home runs: Rafael Devers (33)
RBI: Rafael Devers (101)
Stolen bases: Christian Vazquez (8)
Wins: Eduardo Rodriguez (11)
Saves: Matt Barnes (24)
ERA: Nathan Eovaldi (3.57)
White Sox:
Batting average: Tim Anderson (.302)
Hits: Tim Anderson (140)
Home runs: Jose Abreu (29)
RBI: Jose Abreu (107)
Stolen bases: Tim Anderson (17)
Wins: Carlos Rodon (12)
Saves: Liam Hendriks (34)
ERA: Lucas Giolito (3.69)
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
