Thursday, May 5, 2016
U.S. Cellular Field
For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here
Probable Pitchers: Henry Owens vs. Erik Johnson
The Boston Red Sox visit U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday to play the Chicago White Sox. The probable starters are Henry Owens for the Red Sox and Erik Johnson for the White Sox. The Red Sox have a 13-12-1 over/under record and a 14-12-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 54% of the time. The White Sox are 16-11-0 against the run line and have a 8-16-3 over/under record. They cover the spread 59% of the time.
The Red Sox head into this matchup with a 15-11 record, including 7-4 on the road. Starting pitcher Henry Owens has a 0-0 record with an earned run average of 4.82 and a WHIP of 1.93. He has 7 strikeouts over his 9.1 innings pitched and he has given up 11 hits so far this season. He has allowed 10.6 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 6.92. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.74 and they have given up 70 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .217 against the bullpen while being struck out 98 times and walking 40 times this season. As a team, Boston has allowed 8.08 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.65 batters per nine. They are 19th in the league in team earned run average at 4.27. The Red Sox pitchers have collectively given up 210 base hits and 111 earned runs. They have allowed 25 home runs this season and they allow 1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Boston as a pitching staff has walked 100 batters and struck out 251. They walk 3.8 men per 9 innings while striking out 9.7 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.33 and their FIP as a unit is 3.80.
As a team, Boston is batting .280, good for 2nd in the league while putting together a .280 average away from home. The Red Sox hold a .445 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .340 which is good for 5th in baseball. They rank 2nd in baseball with 9.85 hits per game. David Ortiz comes into this game hitting .306 and his on-base percentage is at .404. He has 26 hits this season along with 13 runs scored and 19 runs batted in. He's struck out 18 times and has walked 14 times. Dustin Pedroia is hitting .321 and he has an on-base percentage of .367. He has totaled 36 hits so far while scoring 19 runs and he's driven in 13. He has walked 8 times and has struck out 18 times. The Red Sox have 256 hits, including 67 doubles and 22 home runs. They've stolen 22 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 2 times. Boston has walked 82 times this season and they've struck out 201 times as a unit. They've left 184 men on base and have a team OPS of .785. They score 5.19 runs per contest and have scored a total of 135 runs so far this year.
Chicago comes into this matchup with a 7-3 home record and a 19-8 overall mark. Erik Johnson is making his season debut for the White Sox. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 1.58 and they have given up 50 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .189 against the White Sox bullpen while being struck out 69 times and walking 24 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 7.31 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.8 batters per nine. They are 3rd in the league in team earned run average at 2.59. The White Sox pitchers as a team have surrendered 195 base knocks and 69 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 18 home runs this year and they give up 0.7 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 73 hitters and struck out 208. They give up a walk 2.7 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.8 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.12 while their FIP as a staff is 3.29.
As a team, they are batting .242, good for 17th in the league while putting together a .217 average at home. The White Sox hold a .384 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .315 which is good for 16th in baseball. They rank 18th in baseball with 8.04 hits per contest. Adam Eaton comes into this matchup batting .294 and he has an OBP of .371. He has 30 hits this year along with 11 runs scored and 6 RBI. He's struck out 15 times and has walked on 9 occasions. Melky Cabrera is hitting .296 and he has an OBP of .373. He has collected 29 hits so far while he's scored 14 runs and drove in 8. He has earned a walk 12 times and has punched out 8 times. The White Sox as a unit have 217 base hits, including 40 doubles and 25 homers. They have 10 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 7 times. Chicago as a team has walked 87 times this year and they have struck out 195 times. They've had 188 men left on base and have an OPS of .699. They score 3.93 runs per game and have totaled 106 runs so far this season.
Boston Red Sox Betting Trends
The Boston Red Sox are 13-12-1 against the over/under so far this season
The Boston Red Sox are 14-12-0 against the run line so far this season
Chicago White Sox Betting Trends
The Chicago White Sox are 8-16-3 against the over/under so far this season
The Chicago White Sox are 16-11-0 against the run line so far this season
Injuries to Watch
Boston Red Sox
05/03/16 3B Pablo Sandoval Shoulder 15-day DL (4/11); out for season
04/19/16 P Joe Kelly Shoulder 15-day DL (4/19)
04/04/16 P Brandon Workman Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Eduardo Rodrigue Knee 15-day DL (4/2)
Chicago White Sox
05/03/16 RF Avisail Garcia Hamstring "?" Wednesday vs. Boston Red Sox
04/27/16 C Kevan Smith Pelvis 15-day DL (4/24)
04/24/16 C Alex Avila Hamstring 15-day DL (4/24)
Guy's Pick: Take the White Sox
Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here
Read more articles by Guy Bruhn
Get all of Today's Free MLB Picks
Get all of Today's Expert MLB Picks