The battle between the best and worst teams in the American League resumes this afternoon in the Bronx, as the New York Yankees host the Chicago White Sox.
New York opened the series with a 4-2 win Friday night, its fifth win in a row, improving to 31-15 on the year. They are overwhelming -298 moneyline favorites in the MLB odds.
Read below for my free White Sox vs Yankees prediction, and why my MLB picks for May 18 think the Bronx Bombers won’t face much resistance.
White Sox vs Yankees prediction
My best bet
Yankees -1.5 (-142 at DraftKings)
My analysis
After dropping a season-worst 20 games under .500, the White Sox have put together their best ball of the season, with a 6-3 mark over the last nine.
Offensively, it must feel like a bonanza, as they’ve scored three or more runs in five of those wins. That’s a vast improvement for a club that averages an MLB-worst 2.89 runs per game.
The ChiSox’s 130 runs scored is 25 back of the next closest team, and they rank dead last in all hitting categories, including average, slugging, on-base percentage and OPS.
They will be running into a buzzsaw Saturday, facing Luis Gil. They Yankees righty has picked up a win in three straight starts, giving up just a single run on six total hits in 18 1-3 inning of work.
Gil is part of a New York pitching staff that boasts the best ERA in baseball at 2.87, holding teams to a .215 average (3rd), with a 1.16 WHIP (7th).
But you don’t jump to the top of a conference with just the ability to throw the ball well. The Yankees also boast an elite hitting team, which currently sits fourth in runs scored. New York is a Top-4 unit in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS, with a team batting average that sits seventh at .255.
The guys from the Bronx also continue to bomb: New York’s 62 home runs on the year are tied with the Dodgers for second-best, trailing only Baltimore.
The task of shutting them down falls in the lap of righty Brad Keller, making his fifth start of the campaign.
He’s 0-1 on the year with a 284 ERA, though the White Sox have yet to earn a W in any of his starts. He’s yet to complete five innings in any appearance, but Keller has surrendered one run or less in three of his starts.
While Chicago is playing better, it’s running into a New York team that’s won 11 of 13 series this season. The Yanks also boast the second-best record in baseball coming off a win, a crisp 19-11 mark.
Gil has a top-tier offense to support him: they’ve put up 10 runs in each of his last two starts, and each of New York’s four wins in the last 10 head-to-heads have been by two runs or more.
Look for the beat to go on for the Yankees.
White Sox vs Yankees same-game parlay (SGP)
Yankees -1.5
Aaron Judge Over 0.5 HR
Luis Gil Under 3.5 hits allowed
After a slow start, Aaron Judge has started to find his stroke. He went yard in the series opener, giving him six home runs over his last 11 games.
He currently sits 12th in home runs on the year, a .981 OPS that ranks sixth, and inside the Top 15 in runs batted in.
Judge has had some luck Keller, albeit in a small sample size, going 2-for-2 against him, with one home run and a pair of RBI.
I like his chances of hitting a dinger in back-to-back games for the third time this season.
Let’s finish this SGP with Gil, who has been downright stingy on the season. In eight starts, Gill has surrendered three hits or less in seven of them.
Going against a White Sox lineup that ranks second-last in hits, look for Gill to shine Saturday.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
White Sox vs Yankees odds
White Sox vs Yankees live odds
White Sox vs Yankees opening odds
- Run line: Chicago +1.5 (+107) | New York -1.5 (-119)
- Moneyline: Chicago +241 | New York -270
- Over/Under: Over 8 (-109) | Under 8 (-104)
White Sox vs Yankees spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Yankees have seven straight games against AL Central opponents.
- Chicago has hit the Under in right of is last 10 games.
- New York has combined with its opponent to go Under the total in four straight games.
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White Sox vs Yankees trend
The Yankees are 21-9 as the betting favorite this season. Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Yankees
White Sox vs Yankees game info
| Location: | Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY |
| Date: | Saturday, 5-18-2024 |
| First pitch: | 1:05 p.m. ET |
| TV: | MLBN |
| White Sox starting pitcher: | Brad Keller (0-1, 2.84 ERA) |
| Yankees starting pitcher: | Luis Gil (4-1, 2.51 ERA) |
White Sox vs Yankees latest injuries
White Sox vs Yankees weather
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