Cleveland Indians vs. Chicago White Sox Pick 8/7/20

Cleveland Indians (8-6) vs. Chicago White Sox (7-6), 8/7/20
Time: 8:10 pm ET Friday, Aug. 7
Where: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Listed Pitchers: Aaron Civale (1-1, 3.75) vs. Dylan Cease (1-1, 6.48)
TV: NBCSCH, SportsTime Ohio

Moneyline: Indians +100/White Sox -110 (Bovada)
Over/Under: 8.5

The Indians and White Sox are playing better than .500 ball so far this season, heading into the opener of a three-game AL Central series on Friday night in Chicago. Cleveland just won a game by two touchdowns, while the White Sox recently ran off six wins in a row. How are we playing this game with our free MLB pick?

MLB Betting Odds

Friday’s MLB betting odds opened the ChiSox at around -110 over Cleveland, with the over/under listed at nine runs. Early betting action then dipped that total to 8.5.

The Sox could also be found getting upwards of +180, giving the 1.5 runs on the MLB run line.

Indians vs. White Sox Set-Up

Cleveland just took three of four games from Cincinnati earlier this week, losing the series opener Monday, then winning the next three contests, including a 13-0 decision Thursday. The Indians led the Reds 3-0 into the seventh inning Thursday, then put up a 10-spot to pull away.

Cleveland pitching held Cincinnati scoreless over the last 23 innings of that series.

Prior to the series with the Reds, the Indians dropped three of four games at Minnesota last weekend, scoring a total of four runs. In fact, before Thursday, Cleveland had scored 12 runs over its previous eight games.

At 8-6 overall, the Tribe trails the first-place Twins by 2.5 games in the AL Central.

Chicago, meanwhile, just split four games with Milwaukee, winning the first two games at Miller Park, then losing the next two at home, including an 8-3 decision Thursday night. The Sox led the Brewers Thursday 2-0 early, then gave up the next eight runs of the game and could not recover.

Last weekend Chicago swept three games in Kansas City. In fact, the ChiSox won six games in a row until losing to Milwaukee Wednesday night.

At 7-6 overall, Chicago trails Minnesota by three games in the AL Central.

The White Sox, after going 72-89 last year, are playing against a season wins over/under of 31.5 for this season.

Cleveland, after going 93-69 last year, is playing against a wins total of 32.5.

Last year the ChiSox took the season series from the Tribe 11 games to eight.

Friday’s Starting Arms

This pitching match-up is a rematch of a game played back on July 28, a 4-3 Cleveland victory.

Cease is 1/2 on quality starts this season. Eleven days ago, in his season debut, Cease gave up four runs and seven hits, including a couple of homers, through just 2 1/3 innings of that 4-3 Chicago defeat. But last Sunday, he held Kansas City to two runs and five hits through six innings of a 9-2 White Sox victory.

So for the season, Cease has allowed six runs and 12 hits through 8 1/3 innings.

Over two career starts against Cleveland, one late last year, and the one earlier this season, Cease allowed eight runs and 11 hits through nine innings. Chicago managed to split those two games, as did the totals.

Civale is 2/2 on quality starts this season. Eleven days ago, in his season debut, Civale held these White Sox to two runs and seven hits through six innings, with one walk and nine strikeouts, in that 4-3 Cleveland victory. Then last Sunday, he limited the Twins, one of the best bopping teams in Baseball, to three runs and five hits through six frames, with nine whiffs against zero walks, although the Tribe lost that game 3-1.

So for the season, Civale’s allowed five runs and 12 hits through 12 innings, with just one walk and 18 K’s.

Over three career starts against the ChiSox, two last year, and the one 11 days ago, Civale allowed nine runs – seven earned – on 17 hits and seven walks through 14 1/3 total innings. Cleveland won two of those three games, and two of those games played under their totals.

More Picks: Red at Brewers Moneyline Plus O/U Predictions

Friday’s Batting Splits

Cleveland is batting just .185 this season against right-handed pitching, with a .300 team OBP and a paltry .265 team slugging percentage.

Chicago is batting .268 vs. RH pitching this season, with a .329 OBP and a .421 slugging percentage.

MLB Betting Trends

• Cleveland played 44-37 on the road last year.
• Chicago played 39-41 at home last year.
• Cleveland played 60-47 vs. right-handed starters last year.
• Chicago played 44-61 vs. RH starters last year.

Totals Report

• Unders are 12-2 in Indians games this season.
• Totals are split 6-6 in White Sox games this season.
• Unders played 35-42 in games played at Comerica Park last season.
• Overs played 10-9 in Indians-White Sox games last year.

Free MLB Pick

Civale gets our handicapping check-mark in the pitching match-up, and while Chicago might own an edge with the bats, Cleveland owns a slight edge in the bullpen comparison. So we’re going with the Indians for our free MLB pick for Friday.