White Sox  vs Athletics Prediction, Pick and Preview, September 8 (9/8): MLB

White Sox vs Athletics Prediction, Pick and Preview, September 8 (9/8): MLB

Credit: photo by Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

 

Odds
Time 9:40 p.m. EST
White Sox money line +145
White Sox run line +1.5 (-140)
Athletics money line -175
Athletics run line -1.5 (+115)
Over / under 8 (-105)

 

Key stats
  White Sox Athletics
Record 80-58 74-64
Road / home record 38-32 41-29
Last 10 record 6-4 4-6
Streak W1 L1
Over / under record 68-58-5 57-70-4
Runs / game 5.13 4.88
Runs allowed / game 4.04 4.37

 

Preview

The Chicago White Sox and the Oakland Athletics will play the second game of their set this evening. The White Sox took the first matchup with a nice showing from Jimmy Lambert last night.

The White Sox have traded their first five games of September. They sit comfortably above the AL Central, and just a game out of the second-seed the AL. Chicago swept Oakland last month, so a fifth straight win wouldn't be out of the works. They're hanging in there without Tim Anderson behind the bats of Yoan Moncada and All-Star first baseman Jose Abreu.

The Athletics are in the midst of another untimely skid. After ending the Yankees streak and winning three straight to end a six game skid, the A's have dropped five of their last six. This bad stretch of play now has them four games back of the last AL Wild Card spot and it doesn't look like New York or Boston will be slowing down. With a managable home stand with the Rangers approaching, they need to close out strong here.

Pitching matchup

White Sox

Dallas Keuchel (8-8, 5.22 ERA) will the start for Chicago. He's been rocky since the start of July. He's given up five or more in each of his last three starts, and he's struggling to get out of innings. Prior to that stretch of play, he had his most successful start in recent memory against Oakland, only giving up two over five innings of work. Keuch has never been strikeout pitcher, now his command on the mound is in question.

Athletics

Frankie Montas (11-9, 3.68 ERA) will get the call for Oakland. The fifth-year flamethrower is coming into his own this season. He's posted career highs in wins and strikeouts, and he's been locked in since the All-Star Break. He won his last three outings, and his past two home starts have been fantastic. Montas threw seven shutout innings and struck out nine in the Battle of the Bay with San Fran before ending New York's winning streak with another seven shutout innings bout. 

Prediction

Three things factor into our approach tonight. The absence of Tim Anderson and the presence of Frankie Montas are the first two reasons. The White Sox aren't same team without TA in the lineup, and his absence is glaring. Montas has been on a tear since July, and he might not have much trouble tonight at home. The third reason is that since of urgency that must be growing in the Oakland clubhouse. Their season has slipped beyond their control, and a win tonight could stop the bleeding. Take their run line tonight, and eye the over.

PICK: Oakland Athletics -1.5 (+115)

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