Rivals Collide in the Metrodome – White Sox vs. Twins

Game Match-up 7/10 8:10 ET

The Metrodome will be rocking this weekend when the AL Central Rival Chicago White Sox (44-41, +$406) and Minnesota Twins (43-43, -$347) square off for a crucial three-game sports betting set before the first half of the baseball season enters the All Star break. Chicago failed in its attempt to take six straight from the Cleveland Indians yesterday afternoon at US Cellular Field after the pitching staff walked 10 batters and allowed 11 hits in the 10-8 home loss. The defeat was only the Palehose third in their L/10 games played. Manager Ozzie Guillen’s club enters its final series of the first half in the green having made MLB bettors a shade over $400 on the season; most of that profit has come on the road where they’re 22-20 and up $803 on the year. Manager Ron Gardenhire’s Twins were humbled in a big way throughout their last series against the New York Yankees. They lost all three baseball betting affairs to drop to 0-7 against the Bronx Bombers this season. Still, Minnesota is a winning ballclub in its own house evidenced by its 26-19 overall record (+$164). The White Sox currently sit 2.5-games in back of the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers, while the Twins find themselves four-games behind. Chicago owns a 4-2 lead in the ’09 season series with their divisional rivals, but the Twins own the two most impressive victories winning 12-5 on 4/10 and a whopping 20-1 in their most recent clash back on 5/21.

Nick Blackburn and the host Twins currently sit as -130 favorites over the host White Sox and John Danks with the game ‘total’ set at 8.5 over -115 per the current BetOnline MLB odds.

After struggling throughout the month of May to the tune of a 2-2 mark with a 6.32 ERA, lefty John Danks was spectacular throughout the month of June going 2-3 with a 2.91 ERA. He’s coming off another dominating effort against the Kansas City Royals where he tossed 7.1 innings of shutout ball en route to securing his seventh win of the season. The effort increased his scoreless innings streak to 19 1/3rd innings, and he boasts a 1.51 ERA during his L/5 starts. He defeated the Twins in his lone start at home against them this season, and in his career vs. Minny, the lefty is 4-3 with a 5.33 ERA & 1.57 WHIP.

Opposing the recently streaking southpaw will be the Twins Nick Blackburn who enters his 18th start of the year off a masterpiece against the Detroit Tigers. The righty scattered seven hits through nine innings of work, and almost tossed his first shutout; Brandon Inge spoiled it with a two-run shot in the 9th. He’s been lights out at home where he’s a perfect 4-0 with a 2.32 ERA & 1.21 WHIP in seven overall starts; Twins are 6-1 in those outings. In eight career starts against the White Sox, Blackburn is 3-4 with a 4.08 ERA & 1.45 WHIP.

While Chicago comes into this one red hot with one of their hottest hurlers on the bump, Blackburn is unbeaten in this venue and the Twins will most definitely come ready to play after getting rolled up and smoked by the Yankees the L/3 days. The Metrodome has always been a house of horrors for the White Sox, 1-9 L/10 visits, and I look for that trend to continue in the first game of this MLB betting series.

Rose’s Recommendation: 2* Minnesota -130 (Blackburn)
(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)