The American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox take on the slumping Oakland Athletics at Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday, looking to hand the A's their fourth consecutive loss.
Oakland, which has dropped the first two games of this series and lost top pitcher Chris Bassitt last night after he took a liner to the face, will have its work cut out in an attempt to get back in the win column as Chicago is sending right-hander Lance Lynn and his sparkling 2.33 ERA to the mound.
Will Oakland turn things around? Find out with our free MLB betting picks and predictions for A's vs. White Sox on August 18.
A's vs White Sox game info
• Location: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chciago, IL
• Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2021
• Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
• TV: NBCS-CHI, Sportsnet
A's vs White Sox odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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A's vs White Sox betting preview
Starting pitchers
Cole Irvin (8-11, 3.52 ERA): Irvin has allowed three or fewer earned runs in all but one of his last nine trips to the mound, but the Athletics have lost in four of his last six starts. The lefty is going to need some more run support in order to start winning more games, but that’s not something he can worry about. Irvin is doing his job when he goes out there, and he also has a 3.30 ERA on the road. That means he won’t be intimidated pitching in an environment like this one.
Lance Lynn (10-3, 2.33 ERA): Lynn gave up four earned runs in just five innings of work against the New York Yankees on August 12, and that was the righty’s first time giving up more than three runs since June 19. It was also just his second time doing so this season. Lynn has just been a consistent force as a part of this White Sox rotation, and he also has a ridiculous 2.13 ERA when pitching at home.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
A's: Ramon Laureano OF (Out), Trevor Rosenthal RP (Out).
White Sox: Billy Hamilton OF (Out), Yasmani Grandal C (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The White Sox are 20-7 in their last 27 games against lefty starters. Find more MLB betting trends for A's vs. White Sox.
Moneyline pick
Lynn is coming off of a rough outing against the Yankees, but he has only allowed more than three earned runs in a start twice this season. He has just been an incredible blend of consistent and dominant, and he now faces an Athletics team that has been struggling.
Oakland has scored only two runs over the first two games in this series, and the team just looks out of sorts at the moment. Also, Matt Olson is just 3-for-15 with no homers against Lynn in his career, and Olson’s power is a huge part of Oakland’s offensive production. If he doesn’t come through with a homer or an extra-base hit, it’s going to be hard for the Athletics to win this game. Prior to allowing two homers against the Yankees, Lynn had gone three games without allowing one.
Offensively, the White Sox will be looking forward to facing Irvin in this game. Chicago doesn’t quite have the counting stats to back up how well the team has hit lefties this year, but the White Sox are fifth in the league in BABIP against southpaws. The Sox are also seventh in the league in slugging percentage against lefties.
If you aren’t willing to take a huge favorite straight up, nobody is going to blame you. However, if you want to play this game, perhaps the best thing to do is parlay the White Sox with another favorite you’re confident in. Chicago just isn’t likely to lose this game, and the odds aren’t enticing enough to back Oakland and go against Lynn here.
PREDICTION: White Sox (-200)
Over/Under pick
Lynn rarely turns in bad starts and the same can be said about Irvin.
Coming into this game, the lefty has allowed three or fewer earned runs in eight of his last nine outings. With that said, even if the White Sox do get it going a bit in this game, it’s not likely that Irvin will give up much more than three or four runs.
Overall, these are two pitchers that are really in grooves right now, and this total seems a bit high with them on the mound.
PREDICTION: Under 8.5 (-104)
A's vs White Sox betting card
- White Sox (-200)
- Under 8.5 (-104)
Picks made on 8/18/2021 at 9:39 a.m. ET
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