MLB Season Picks: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox are on a roll and are slowly beginning to live up to their preseason hype as a pick to make the playoffs. On Thursday, they will try to continue their good form when they wrap up their interleague series against the Milwaukee Brewers. On Thursday, their encounter will feature a couple of veterans on the mound with Milwaukee opting for Josh Lindblom to close out the set, and Chicago going with Gio Gonzalez to the bump. It will be a thrilling encounter, so put on your seatbelts.

Pale Hose Take 6-Game Win Streak Home

The Chicago White Sox fought hard with a couple of late home runs to post a 6-4 win in the opener on Monday at Miller Park. They then came back to get a 3-2 win on Tuesday. The last two victories gave them a 6-game winning streak which concluded their 8-game road trip. This has placed the White Sox just two games behind the Minnesota Twins club in the AL Central. The series was then shifted to Chicago on Wednesday, and the betting companies listed Chicago as -114 chalk along with an eight and a half run total.

Due to the virus shutting down St. Louis Cardinals, the Milwaukee Brewers had four days off before starting the series. The club has been struggling offensively as they are 11th in the National League averaging 3.75 runs per game. Christian Yelich is also on a bad run of form, which has seen him collect just three hits in 37 appearances.

On the other hand, Chicago is not having much trouble at the plate as it is 3rd in the AL scoring 5.36 RPG and is tied second with 16 homers in the first 11 games. Luis Albert is quickly becoming a great player in the league, batting .364 from the leadoff spot with 2HR and 4SB. Along with him, Eloy Jimenez(.333, 3HR) and Yoan Moncada(.333, 2HR) are also adding fuel to their offense.

Although these teams have played each other several times, they have played only 24 of those games since Milwaukee moved to the National League in 1998. Moreover, in those 24 games, the Chicago White Sox have won 18, including the last six series. Out of those six games, the four that were played at Guaranteed Rate Field were ‘under’ winners.

Lindblom Will Be Making Just His 8th Career Start

He has been out of the game since 2017, and even then, he was used primarily as a reliever. He made his Brewer debut just a few days ago in a starting role. He was picked in the 2nd round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008. He worked into the fourth and struck out five before leaving due to back spasms. Lindblom will be facing the Chicago White Sox for the first time in his career this Thursday, so he will be in full spirit. 

Playing for the third team in three seasons, Gio Gonzalez will be making his second start of the season, and he will be looking to continue his fine form from the first game. In his White Sox, and season debut, he was roughed up by the Minnesota Twins, and he was summoned from the bullpen and charged with six runs in four innings. He then made his first start against Kansas City last Saturday as -135 chalk on the MLB odds.

He will be facing his former teammates for the first time in more than 2years. In his ten career assignments against the Brewers, Gonzalez is 2-5 with an unsightly 5.23 ERA. His last win against Milwaukee came in 2014. Against Gonzalez, Christian Yelich holds a .280 career average.

Umpire Notes and Mother Nature

The Milwaukee Brewers have had a good break to get things sorted out, and also, they can get their bodies recharged in the early going. However, breaks like this already in a season that has been shortened may not be the best thing for a team, especially for the pitchers. The Chicago White Sox has shown how good their offense can be against the Royals. Even though neither pitcher put on convincing performances in their last outing, we are siding with the Chicago White Sox because of their offense and form in their last few games. If the Milwaukee Brewers want to put on a fight against White Sox, then Christian Yelich needs to get out of his bad form.

Prediction: Chicago White Sox

Odds: Milwaukee: o9-120; White Sox: u9+100