White Sox vs. Rangers Betting Line – June 4
Sportsbook.ag has your White Sox vs. Rangers betting line for June 4 courtesy of our good friends at Sportsbook.ag.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (24-27) at TEXAS RANGERS (27-26)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Texas -124, Chicago +114, Total: 8.5
The Texas Rangers will look to win their fifth consecutive series when they play the rubber-match against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.
The White Sox were certainly expecting to be in a better position at this point of the season after making plenty of solid offseason moves, but they remain in last place in the AL Central despite winning five of their last eight games. They were blown out in the first game of this series, losing 15-2 as they allowed 19 hits, but returned the favor on Wednesday in a 9-2 spanking in which they backed a tremendous effort (7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 13 K) from starter Chris Sale. With another multi-hit game, 3B Gordon Beckham (.284) has continued a recent tear in which he has raised his average 43 points in his last 10 games; all of which were on the road.
Texas has recently pumped its record over .500 with wins in each of its last four series in which it is 10-3. They also won the first game of this set 15-2 behind 19 hits and have averaged 7.5 runs per game over their last 11 victories. In Tuesday’s win, they were able to go 6-for-13 with RISP and knock three balls out of the park, but couldn’t get much done in Wednesday’s 9-2 loss, combining to strike out 16 times and were a meager 0-for-5 with RISP.
It has been a wild couple of games for freshly called up, 21-year-old 3B Joey Gallo (.500) who had a homer and four RBI on Tuesday and added a solo homer in the ninth on Wednesday.
Another top rookie will be on the mound for the White Sox in this one as LHP Carlos Rodon (1-0, 3.45 ERA) looks to outduel veteran RHP Yovani Gallardo (5-6, 3.88 ERA) of the host Rangers. It has been ugly for Chicago when on the road where they are 12-17 as they take on this Texas group which is a mere 10-15 in Arlington. The victory by the White Sox on Wednesday evened up the overall series between these clubs since the start of the 2013 campaign with both teams winning seven times and also splitting the eight games in this stadium. Many of the contests tend to be blowouts when they meet and the winning team has had a margin of victory of seven or greater in five of the last eight games.
Trends show that the Rangers are a putrid 18-43 (.295) at home when the total is nine to 9.5 over the past two seasons as they are also 25-12 (.656) after having won five or six of their last seven games in the same span.
With 1B Jose Abreu’s (Finger) return to the lineup, the Sox are currently fielding a healthy team as Texas is without OF Josh Hamilton (Hamstring), 3B Adrian Beltre (Thumb), 1B Kyle Blanks (Tailbone) and 2B Jurickson Profar (Shoulder).
Rodon has come as advertised after being selected third overall in last season’s amateur draft and has seen his club win in three of his first four career starts. He has spent time in both the bullpen and rotation so far, posting a rough 6.0 BB/9 over 28.2 total innings, but is coming off his most polished start yet when he went 6.1 frames and allowed three runs (1 ER) on eight hits with four strikeouts (0 walks). Overall he has been able to mow down 7.9 batters per nine innings and despite hitters going for a bloated .337 BABIP against him, he’s has allowed a mere 0.31 HR/9.
The youngster will need to tread lightly when taking on 1B Prince Fielder (.355) who leads the league in batting average and hit .377 with at least one base knock in all but three of 30 games in May. On the other hand, SS Elvis Andrus (.238) has really been struggling, going 3-for-20 (.150) with four strikeouts in his last six outings.
The relievers for Chicago have not done well with a 9-7 record, 4.20 ERA (1.46 WHIP) and are a solid 12-for-15 (80%) in saves. David Robertson (2.49 ERA, 10 saves) has allowed four runs behind two homers in his past 3.1 innings and has blown three saves in his past eight attempts.
Gallardo has enjoyed some success in his first season with the Rangers despite his strikeout rate (6.5 K/9) dropping significantly over the past four years. His other numbers, while not out of this world, have remained consistent and better than average as he is walking 2.7 batters per nine innings and has allowed 1.01 HR/9. Both Gallardo and Texas have been able to get a win in three of his past four starts and in those outings he has totaled 19 innings of work with six runs given up (5 ER) on 14 hits with a 13:5 K/BB ratio.
Over his 222 career starts, Gallardo has never faced the White Sox as all of his other seasons were spent in the National League, but he has had the misfortune of facing 1B Adam LaRoche (11-for-30, 3 doubles, 2 HR, 6 RBI) plenty and has not done well. On the other hand, C Geovany Soto has also tallied a decent amount of at-bats (24) as a member of the Cubs and while he does have two homers in that time, overall he is 5-for-24 overall (.208) with 11 strikeouts.
The bullpen for the Rangers has gone 9-6 with a poor 4.15 ERA (1.34 WHIP) and are 13-for-21 (62%) in save opportunities. Shawn Tolleson (2.70 ERA, 6 saves) has been perfect in his save chances and since becoming the closer has given up two hits with a 6:1 K/BB ratio over six scoreless frames.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
