6-4, +3.26
2* Chicago White Sox -1.5 +160
After a hard fought series with the Indians, the WhiteSox face another central rival as <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State> comes to town. I’m playing the run line here because of the way I think this game will go. One, if not both of these pitchers will get lit up today, and I'm putting my money that it is Silva. If they both get lit, and the game becomes a high scoring affair, 1-run shouldn't make the difference here. Good odds at +160.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o> </o>
Javier Vasquez has made a name for himself in this league, not because he is anything special, but by stepping up in big games. He’s a solid 3 guy that comes to pitch when a good team or good game rolls into town, and that’s what he has here. A <st1:State w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:State> team, off a sweep, will get out of the friendly confines and friendly temperatures of their dome, and head down to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Chicago</st1lace></st1:City> in the 45-degree weather. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State> should remember quickly in this game that bat to ball contact in cool weather doesn’t feel good on the hands. The White Sox have been playing in this weather for the past 3 games, and are no stranger to it so far this season.
<o> </o>
Vasquez has had a bad history vs. the Twinkies, but it is really skewed because he is a poor dome pitcher, and struggles against the Twins in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State>. When he has faced them in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Chicago</st1lace></st1:City>, he has performed admirably. His last outing was 6.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs. He has also induced the Twins into groundballs more than any other team with a GB:FB ratio of about 2:1, which is very impressive. Vasquez has performed much better at home, as his ERA sits about a half run better when he pitches at home. He is also a fast starter, as his April ERA of 3.99 over the past 3 seasons is more than a run and a half better than almost any other month of the season.
<o> </o>
Carlos Silva comes into this game in the complete opposite boat. His road ERA sits 1 run higher at 5.00 on road starts. And his ERA gets almost 1 full run higher when he gets outdoors. How will he respond to the early season shivers? The White Sox swept the Twins early in the season last year, in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Chicago</st1lace></st1:City>. Finally, Silva’s ugly April ERA of 6.04 is a full run to 1.5 runs worse than any other month. Tells me Silva is a slow starter, who probably doesn’t pitch well in colder conditions, as his ERA gets better as the months go by, and temperatures increase.
<o> </o>
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Chicago</st1lace></st1:City> 8
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State> 4
2* Chicago White Sox -1.5 +160
After a hard fought series with the Indians, the WhiteSox face another central rival as <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State> comes to town. I’m playing the run line here because of the way I think this game will go. One, if not both of these pitchers will get lit up today, and I'm putting my money that it is Silva. If they both get lit, and the game becomes a high scoring affair, 1-run shouldn't make the difference here. Good odds at +160.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o> </o>
Javier Vasquez has made a name for himself in this league, not because he is anything special, but by stepping up in big games. He’s a solid 3 guy that comes to pitch when a good team or good game rolls into town, and that’s what he has here. A <st1:State w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:State> team, off a sweep, will get out of the friendly confines and friendly temperatures of their dome, and head down to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Chicago</st1lace></st1:City> in the 45-degree weather. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State> should remember quickly in this game that bat to ball contact in cool weather doesn’t feel good on the hands. The White Sox have been playing in this weather for the past 3 games, and are no stranger to it so far this season.
<o> </o>
Vasquez has had a bad history vs. the Twinkies, but it is really skewed because he is a poor dome pitcher, and struggles against the Twins in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State>. When he has faced them in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Chicago</st1lace></st1:City>, he has performed admirably. His last outing was 6.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs. He has also induced the Twins into groundballs more than any other team with a GB:FB ratio of about 2:1, which is very impressive. Vasquez has performed much better at home, as his ERA sits about a half run better when he pitches at home. He is also a fast starter, as his April ERA of 3.99 over the past 3 seasons is more than a run and a half better than almost any other month of the season.
<o> </o>
Carlos Silva comes into this game in the complete opposite boat. His road ERA sits 1 run higher at 5.00 on road starts. And his ERA gets almost 1 full run higher when he gets outdoors. How will he respond to the early season shivers? The White Sox swept the Twins early in the season last year, in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Chicago</st1lace></st1:City>. Finally, Silva’s ugly April ERA of 6.04 is a full run to 1.5 runs worse than any other month. Tells me Silva is a slow starter, who probably doesn’t pitch well in colder conditions, as his ERA gets better as the months go by, and temperatures increase.
<o> </o>
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Chicago</st1lace></st1:City> 8
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State> 4