White Sox vs. Tigers Odds
| White Sox Odds | -190 |
| Tigers Odds | +170 |
| Over/Under | 7.5 (-120 / +100) |
| Time | 7:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds via Caesars. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
Both the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers got the bats going in the opener of this series Monday, but the White Sox would land the final blow in the top of the ninth to secure a 9-5 victory.
Tonight's second installment of this series could look very different.
Dylan Cease will get the ball for Chicago this evening. Cease has been one of the more dominant pitchers in the majors thus far, as his explosive stuff has baffled many hitters. We have already seen Cease dominate this young Detroit lineup, and all indications appear to point to a repeat performance.
Starting for the Tigers will be Drew Hutchison. It has been a long and bumpy road for Hutchison, but he appears to have found a home in Detroit. Since signing there last season, he's faired well as he posted a 2.11 ERA in 2021 and has been solid in most of his outings this season.
However, the White Sox lineup has begun to heat up of late, and their nine-run performance last night could be a precursor for what we see today. Can they make it two in a row, or will the Tigers stun Cease? Let's dig a little deeper to find out.
White Sox to Knock Around Detroit's Bullpen
This will be Hutchison's first start of the season, and I expect him to serve as an opener. Hutchison has not been a full-time starter since he was with Toronto in 2015 and I'd be surprised if he gives them three innings.
However, Hutchison has done a fine job for Detroit out of the pen. His 4.60 ERA is deceiving as all of his earned runs have come in three appearances. Hutchison's stuff has also proved effective as he struck out at least a batter per inning. The trouble for Detroit, however, will come when he departs.
The middle innings of this game are where the Tigers are vulnerable. Detroit does have the third-best bullpen ERA in the majors at 2.91, but that is mainly made up by the dominance of its back-end guys. The options for the middle innings of this game are due for rough outings. Elvin Rodriguez, Jacob Barnes and Wily Peralta each either have ERAs above six or expected ERAs a full run higher than their actual ERAs.
The heart of Chicago's order has been rolling of late. Former MVP Jose Abreu, Jake Burger and Andrew Vaughn all have average exit velocities over 90 mph and hard-hit rates above 42 percent. Luis Robert cannot be forgotten about as well as he's always a treat will his many tools.
Chicago will either get to Hutchison once his outing is extended, or they will need to pounce on the bridge to the back of Detroit's bullpen.
Cease Should Dominate Struggling Tigers Lineup
Cease has reached the ace potential that was placed upon him when he was a highly-touted prospect. His stuff has been elite this year and very tough for hitters to decipher as he ranks in the top seven percent of all qualified pitchers in expected batting average and strikeout rate.
Cease should have no issue overpowering this Detroit lineup as his fastball has been one of the best in the game. It sits around 97 mph and has a spin rate that is in the top four percent of the majors. All of that has made it difficult to hit as opposing batters are hitting just .196 off of it. The fastball used to set up his slider, which has an incredible 43 percent whiff rate and a .170 BAA.
The only issue in Cease's numbers is his walks. His walk rate is in the bottom 15 percent of the league, but Detroit's lineup lacks the plate discipline to make his command issue work against him. As a result, Detroit will enter this game with the fifth-highest strikeout rate and second-lowest walk rate in the majors.
Given those numbers and the fact that the Tigers are dead last in wRC+, this could line up to be one of Cease's best outings of the year.
White Sox-Tigers Pick
Detroit has left the first five innings of this game up in the air by starting Hutchison. Both his length and effectiveness are a concern as the top of Chicago's lineup, Abreu in particular, has been hot of late.
The White Sox could get to face him twice or get at-bats against the few struggling arms in the Detroit pen. Regardless, the White Sox will be on the board early while Cease carves up a scuffling Detroit lineup.
I'm backing the Sox in as many ways as you can, but the best way is on the first five spread.
Pick: White Sox -0.5 (-125)
