by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Sep 08, 2021
Game time: 3:37 p.m. ET
Venue: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Where to watch: NBCSCH, NBCSCA
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Athletics -135, White Sox +115
BetMGM: Athletics -128, White Sox +105
Caesars: Athletics -130, White Sox +120
Season record (entering Wednesday)
White Sox: 80-58 (1st place, AL Central)
Athletics: 74-64 (3rd place, AL West)
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White Sox - Athletics preview and analysis
Recent form
White Sox: 7-3 in last 10
Athletics: 4-6 in last 10
Even though this is going up well before the Chicago White Sox finish their three-game series against the Oakland Athletics, we like the White Sox in this spot on the road.
The leaders of the American League Central are sending starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez to the mound to face Oakland’s Sean Manaea, and Lopez is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA since becoming a mainstay in the rotation.
September rolls on and the White Sox are slowly closing in on an AL Central title. Chicago is 11.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians atop the division. Chicago took Game 1 on Tuesday 6-3. Yoan Moncada went 3-for-5 from the two spot.
James Kaprielian pitched well in four innings of work and allowed only one earned run in five hits of work. A.J. Puk, who was designated for assignment in Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, allowed three earned runs in only one-third inning of work.
Lopez has proven to be a reliable starter when getting some work in. His first loss of the year was on Aug. 22 at Tampa Bay when he only allowed three runs in four innings. Same as Sept. 4 against the Kansas City Royals, but that was a no decision. There’s going to come a time when the Lopez needs to have more innings of work if he’s going to be in the playoff rotation.
The A’s come into Wednesday 3.5 games back of the Boston Red Sox for the second wild-card spot in the American League. With the Seattle Mariners winning against the Houston Astros on Wednesday, the Mariners still have some room on Oakland.
Prediction
With the A’s recent struggles, this is a prime area for the White Sox to put the pressure on Oakland and put a stamp on this series. One thing to keep an eye on is if the White Sox don’t use Lopez long enough to get this win. But either way, the offense should carry them well enough to get the win. White Sox 6-3.
Betting trends
The White Sox are only 26-26 (-0.9 net games on the money line) when the line is +125 to -125.
The Athletics are 7-1 (+5.4 net games on the moneyline) when they’re a favorite of -125 to -175 and Manaea starts.
Projected lineup
White Sox:
Luis Robert (R) CF
Yoan Moncada (S) 3B
Jose Abreu (R) 1B
Yasmani Grandal (S) C
Gavin Sheets (L) DH
Leury Garcia (S) SS
Brian Goodwin (L) RF
Andrew Vaughn (R) LF
Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
Athletics:
Josh Harrison (R) 2B
Starling Marte (R) CF
Matt Olson (L) 1B
Matt Chapman (R) 3B
Mark Canha (R) LF
Yan Gomes (R) C
Khris Davis (R) DH
Chad Pinder (R) RF
Elvis Andrus (R) SS
Probable starting pitchers: Reynaldo Lopez (CHI) vs. Sean Manaea (OAK)
Statistical leaders
White Sox:
Batting average: Tim Anderson (.302)
Hits: Tim Anderson (140)
Home runs: Jose Abreu (28)
RBI: Jose Abreu (103)
Stolen bases: Tim Anderson (17)
Wins: Dylan Cease & Carlos Rodon (11)
Saves: Liam Hendriks (32)
ERA: Carlos Rodon (2.41)
Athletics:
Batting average: Matt Olson (.273)
Hits: Matt Olson (130)
Home runs: Matt Olson (32)
RBI: Matt Olson (90)
Stolen bases: Starling Marte (42)
Wins: Chris Bassitt (12)
Saves: Lou Trivino (21)
ERA: Chris Bassitt (3.22)
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
