White Sox vs. Angels Odds
| White Sox Odds | +124 |
| Angels Odds | -133 |
| Over/Under | 8.5 |
| Time | 9:38 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds via WynnBet. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
The Chicago White Sox avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles last night. Now, Chicago travels to Los Angeles to take on the Angels for a three-game series. LA took down Seattle during a seventh-inning rally on Sunday.
The White Sox send the struggling Lucas Giolito to the mound, and the Angels match with Noah Syndergaard. Both pitchers have had their fair share of troubles in 2022.
Will we see the Giolito and Syndergaard of old on Monday night, or will offenses reign supreme to open this three-game series between struggling squads?
Chicago White Sox
After dominating each of the last three seasons, Lucas Giolito's struggles in 2022 cannot be understated.
The ace of the White Sox staff has been anything but that this year: Giolito reports a 5.40 ERA in 12 starts; his xERA is not too far behind at 5.24. Giolito has been hit incredibly hard (.274 xBA) and ranks in the bottom 5% of MLB in barrel rate.
It's not like his velocity has dipped, either. His arsenal remains the same — fastball, slider and changeup — and he's still stranding 75% of runners on base. Even his strikeout rate is near 30%.
The biggest difference has been his control — 9.3% walk rate — and inability to limit the long ball (2.13 HR/9).
Giolito has given up at least one home run in nine of his last 10 starts, and opponents have amassed a .519 xSLG against the right-hander.
The White Sox bullpen has also been inconsistent in 2022. Chicago's relief pitchers have combined for a 4.19 ERA and have given up the sixth-most walks among relief corps. Moreover, it should be a relatively busy day for the White Sox pen: Giolito has made it past the fifth inning just once during his last five starts.
It's also important to note that the White Sox hit significantly better on the road than at Guaranteed Rate Field, and they're swinging a hot bat in the month of June.
Chicago is slashing .272/.322/.401 on the road compared to a measly .233/.296/.355 at home. The White Sox rank seventh in wRC+ and ninth in wOBA in June.
Los Angeles Angels
Noah Syndergaard is nowhere near the same pitcher that he was before Tommy John surgery.
The 6-foot-6 right-hander's velocity has dropped more than three miles per hour into the mid-90s. Furthermore, Syndergaard is not generating swings-and-misses like he used to. His strikeout rate ranks in the bottom 12% of MLB — a drastic decline from the fire-throwing pitcher he once was.
Opponents are seeing Syndergaard well, and he's a pitcher I've consistently faded in 2022.
His xERA (4.37) and xFIP (4.34) are nearly one half-run higher than his actual ERA (3.86). Syndergaard has given up a career-worst .269 xBA and barrel rate of 7.5%.
Offensively, the Angels are much better at home. Their average jumps 30 points to .252, and they boast an OPS of .753 at home versus .656 on the road.
Mike Trout has been dominant (184 wRC+), and Shohei Ohtani (153 wRC+) is not too far behind. However, it's been the breakouts of Taylor Ward (171 wRC+) and Jared Walsh (127 wRC+) that have provided a nice boost to the lineup.
The Angels also rank 11th in wRC+ and sixth in isolated power against right-handed pitching, drawing a favorable matchup against Giolito on Monday night.
White Sox vs. Angels Pick
This is an interesting matchup between two pitchers that have been inconsistent in the first few months of 2022.
While I don't particularly like a side — I lean Chicago at plus money — I do think the total has value on Monday night.
The Angels offense hits right-handed pitching well and draws Giolito, who has struggled on the road all season. Giolito has a 5.77 ERA away from home and faces a Los Angeles lineup that should fill the base paths and do some damage.
On the opposite side, Syndergaard faces a White Sox lineup that has been swinging the bat well in June and does most of its damage away from Guaranteed Rate Field.
Both pitchers have been barreled all season long, and I don't think Monday will be any different. I expect the balls to fly around Angel Stadium in a high-scoring bout to open the week.
Pick: Over 8.5 (-110, up to -120)
