The Chicago White Sox continue to slip into oblivion with four losses in their last five games, but will have a huge opportunity in front of them on Friday when they take on a Seattle Mariners team which has also disappointed over the last few weeks.
Let’s break down White Sox vs. Mariners in our MLB picks and predictions for Friday, June 16.
White Sox vs Mariners odds
White Sox vs Mariners predictions
We don’t really know a lot about the Mariners’ starter on Friday, Bryan Woo. The 23-year-old owns a 10.80 ERA through his first two starts in the big leagues, which have taken him across 6 2/3 innings. He does have 11 strikeouts in that time, after striking out 59 in 44 innings this year down in Double-A.
Woo has not pitched a ton since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 draft, but what we do know is that he will miss bats and has not had too much trouble with walks. His ground ball rate through two games is a low 35%, and in Double-A this year he was at 31.6%. He’s going to pitch to fly balls, which is why he’s been burned by the longball already in his young career.
Seattle owns a 104 wRC+ in the last two weeks, which constitutes as a hot streak for this team. This is a very unspectacular lineup, but the White Sox haven’t been much better with a 75 wRC+ in the last 14 days.
Both teams have a strikeout rate of 25% or worse over that span, so I like the matchup for Woo and Michael Kopech, who will go for Chicago. His 27.5% strikeout rate this year represents a return to form in that department, and he’s been brilliant since a brutal April. This should be a low-scoring affair.
My best bet: Under 7.5 (+100 at BetMGM)
White Sox vs Mariners same-game parlay
Under 7.5
Bryan Woo 6+ Strikeouts
Michael Kopech 6+ Strikeouts
We noted above that both of these teams love to strike out. The Mariners are punching out in 24.9% of plate appearances over the last two weeks, and in the last seven days the White Sox have struck out in an astounding 28.6% of plate appearances. In that time, Chicago’s swinging strike rate is a league-worst 15.6%.
That should help Woo uphold his end of the bargain. He’s struck out 11 in his first 6 2/3 big league innings, and prior to his call-up had struck out six in five of his last seven outings.
While the Mariners have been slightly better in the contact department of late, they’re still striking out a ton. On top of that, Kopech is at least double the strikeout arm that Woo is, fanning at least six in each of his last five outings. In four of those starts, he’s gone for nine or more strikeouts.
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White Sox vs Mariners moneyline and Over/Under analysis
The Mariners opened up as high as -150 on the moneyline here but have been steadily moving in the wrong direction in the MLB odds. They’re now down to at least -140, with plenty of books setting Seattle around -130. With that, you might be surprised to discover just 41% of the bets here are on the White Sox, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, and the road team makes up just 42% of the moneyline handle.
In terms of movement on the total, the line here opened up at eight runs before quickly plummeting to 7.5. That one may have to do with the sharps, considering 77% of the bets which have come in on the total at DraftKings are on the Over, but 49% of the handle is on the Under.
We already know I am siding with the Under; I also like the White Sox quite a bit here as underdogs.
There is too much uncertainty with Woo, considering he has been knocked around in his first two big-league starts and is making a very difficult jump to the majors from Double-A. Kopech looks more and more like the future ace we thought he would be just a couple of years ago, and I trust him a lot more than Woo or this collection of bad hitters the Mariners have.
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Trend to know
The Under is 4-0-1 in the White Sox last five games vs. a right-handed starter. Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs Mariners
White Sox vs Mariners game info
| Location: | T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA |
| Date: | Friday, June 16, 2023 |
| First pitch: | 10:10 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Apple TV+ |
Starting pitchers
Michael Kopech (3-5, 4.03 ERA): The flamethrower now owns a 1.50 ERA in the month of June after striking out 15 over his first 12 innings this month. This comes after he posted a 2.75 ERA in the month of May.
Bryan Woo (0-1, 10.80 ERA): The 23-year-old posted a 2.05 ERA in nine starts at the Double-A level, spanning 44 innings. He’s struck out 11 in his first 6 2/3 big-league frames, but he’s allowed eight earned runs.
