Thursday, September 15, 2016

U.S. Cellular Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Mike Clevinger vs. James Shields

The Cleveland Indians head to U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday to take on the Chicago White Sox. The probable pitchers are Mike Clevinger for the Indians and James Shields for the White Sox. The opening line for this game has Cleveland at -148 and Chicago at +138. The over/under is 9.5. The Indians have a 72-62-10 over/under mark and a 68-76-0 run line record, meaning they cover 47% of the time. The White Sox are 73-71-0 against the run line and have a 68-69-7 over/under record. They cover the spread 51% of the time.

The Indians head into this game with a 83-61 record, and they are 36-36 on the road. Starting pitcher Mike Clevinger has a 2-2 record with an ERA of 5.01 and a WHIP of 1.45. He has 40 strikeouts during his 41.1 innings pitched and he has given up 36 hits so far this year. He has surrendered 7.8 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.52. The bullpen this season has an earned run average of 3.44 and they have allowed 390 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .232 against the pen while they've been struck out 439 times and walked 171 times this year. As a unit, Cleveland has given up 8.29 base hits per nine innings while striking out 8.73 hitters per nine. They are 6th in the Majors in team earned run average at 3.85. The Indians pitchers have collectively given up 1,195 base hits and 554 earned runs. They have allowed 169 home runs this season and they allow 1.2 homers per nine innings as a staff. Cleveland as a pitching staff has walked 424 batters and struck out 1,258. They walk 2.9 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.7 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.25 and their FIP as a unit is 3.94.

As a team, Cleveland is hitting .264, good for 5th in the league while putting together a .238 average on the road. The Indians have a .436 team slugging percentage and an OBP of .329 which is good for 6th in the league. They rank 6th in baseball with 9.09 hits per contest. Jason Kipnis comes into this game hitting .279 and his on-base percentage is at .346. He has 153 hits this season along with 82 runs scored and 77 runs batted in. He's struck out 129 times and has walked 56 times. Francisco Lindor is hitting .315 and he has an on-base percentage of .361. He has totaled 177 hits so far while scoring 92 runs and he's driven in 70. He has walked 43 times and has struck out 79 times. The Indians have 1,309 hits, including 275 doubles and 174 home runs. They've stolen 112 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 28 times. Cleveland has walked 462 times this season and they've struck out 1,115 times as a unit. They've left 962 men on base and have a team OPS of .765. They score 4.9 runs per contest and have scored a total of 705 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this game with a 40-32 home mark and a 70-74 overall record. With an ERA of 6.01, James Shields has a 5-17 record and a 1.63 WHIP. He has 110 strikeouts over the 157.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 185 hits. He has allowed 10.6 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 6.27. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.69 and they have given up 404 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .249 against the White Sox bullpen while being struck out 395 times and walking 205 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 8.86 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.87 batters per nine. They are 11th in the league in team earned run average at 4.05. The White Sox pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,271 base knocks and 581 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 170 home runs this year and they give up 1.2 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 473 hitters and struck out 1,129. They give up a walk 3.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.9 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.35 while their FIP as a staff is 4.32.

As a team, they are batting .257, good for 13th in the league while putting together a .262 average at home. The White Sox hold a .407 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .319 which is good for 21st in baseball. They rank 13th in baseball with 8.82 hits per contest. Melky Cabrera comes into this matchup batting .292 and he has an OBP of .343. He has 152 hits this year along with 61 runs scored and 71 RBI. He's struck out 63 times and has walked on 43 occasions. Jose Abreu is hitting .299 and he has an OBP of .352. He has collected 168 hits so far while he's scored 60 runs and drove in 94. He has earned a walk 37 times and has punched out 112 times. The White Sox as a unit have 1,269 base hits, including 247 doubles and 146 homers. They have 69 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 31 times. Chicago as a team has walked 413 times this year and they have struck out 1,150 times. They've had 991 men left on base and have an OPS of .725. They score 4.24 runs per game and have totaled 610 runs so far this season.

Cleveland Indians Betting Trends

The Cleveland Indians are 72-62-10 against the over/under so far this season

The Cleveland Indians are 68-76-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago White Sox Betting Trends

The Chicago White Sox are 68-69-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago White Sox are 73-71-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Cleveland Indians

09/13/16 P Danny Salazar Forearm out indefinitely
08/31/16 C Yan Gomes Shoulder 60-day DL (7/18)
07/18/16 P Tommy Hunter Back 15-day DL (7/10)
07/07/16 P Zach McAllister Hip 15-day DL (7/6)
06/01/16 LF Marlon Byrd Suspension out for season
05/14/16 LF Michael Brantley Shoulder 60-day DL (5/10); out for season

Chicago White Sox

08/03/16 CF Charlie Tilson Hamstring 15-day DL (8/3)
07/27/16 2B Brett Lawrie Hamstring 15-day DL (7/22)
07/01/16 3B Matt Davidson Foot 60-day DL (6/30)
06/21/16 P Zach Putnam Elbow 15-day DL (6/21)
06/10/16 CF Austin Jackson Knee 15-day DL (6/10)
05/06/16 P Jacob Petricka Hip 60-day DL (5/2)

Tony's Pick: Take the White Sox

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