With the postseason just around the corner, the action in the majors is becoming more intense. In the American League, The Kansas City Royals look to keep in step with the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central race when they face the Chicago White Sox later tonight. Meanwhile in the AL West, the Seattle Mariners look to bolster their wild card bid when they face the division leaders Los Angeles Angels.
Read on for our preview of these two important ballgames and while you’re at it, check out our MLB Free Picks for the five best baseball games to bet on today.
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Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals (8:10 PM ET)
Line: Chicago White Sox (-101) at Kansas City Royals (-109); total: 6.5 – see all MLB lines
[sc:MLB240banner ]The Kansas City Royals will look to solidify their hold on the second wild card spot and will send Yordano Ventura (12-10, 3.27 ERA) to the mound later tonight. The Royals are an impressive 7-3 in Ventura’s last 10 starts and will look to grab the vital win that will keep them in step with the Oakland Athletics in the wild card race.
The Chicago White Sox will counter with Chris Sale (12-3, 1.99 ERA). He was remarkable in his last outing, throwing eight shutout innings in a tight 1-0 win. The White Sox are a perfect 2-0 in Sale’s only two starts against the Royals including a seven-inning gem last July 21 where he struck out eight batters and allowed just one earned run.
The Royals are 5-5 in their last ten home games while the White Sox have struggled on the road lately going 2-8 in their last ten travels.
Writer’s Prediction
The Royals win.
Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels (10:00 PM ET)
Line: Seattle Mariners (+110) at Los Angeles Angels (-120); total: 8.0 – see all MLB lines
The Seattle Mariners will send James Paxton (6-2, 1.83 ERA) to the mound later tonight in the second game of a crucial three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels as they look to keep pace with their rivals in the ever-tightening AL wild card race.
Paxton is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.25 in his two starts against the Angels this season. The Angels will counter with C.J. Wilson (12-9, 4.61 ERA). The Angels are an impressive 9-1 in Wilson’s last 10 starts at home.
The Mariners are 7-3 in their last 10 road games while the Angels are 8-2 in their last 10 games at home.
