South Side Big Bats – Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles

Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles 7:05 ET

Tuesday night MLB betting action resumes at BetOnline Sportsbook when the Chicago White Sox (7-5 +$227) and Baltimore Orioles (6-7 +$76) partake in the first of its nine sports betting match-ups scheduled for 2009. Both clubs enter this series at completely different ends of the spectrum. Chicago avenged its divisional series loss in the playoffs at the hands of Tampa Bay by going into Tropicana Field and taking three of four from the Rays this past weekend. They rocked Tampa’s pitching staff for 28 combined runs, while only giving up 13 themselves. Baltimore had its self confidence shattered at Fenway Park over the weekend by the Boston Red Sox who swept the four-game set outscoring the O’s 30-14. As a visitor in ’09, Chicago has gone 4-2 and rewarded its baseball betting backers with a $334 return on a $100 investment per game. Even though Baltimore’s struggled on the road, it’s taken care of business at home to the tune of a 4-2 mark that’s reeled MLB bettors in $326 on the young season.

After getting lined as lofty underdogs in its final three road games at the “Trop”, BetOnline oddsmakers currently have Chicago lined as short -110 favorites for this contest with the game ‘total’ set at 10.5 under -120. Chicago won five of its nine overall meetings (-$98) with Baltimore last season, which included a 3-2 mark at Camden Yards. Chicago is 2-0 in Game 1 of a series coming off a victory its last time out, but Baltimore is 3-1 opening up a series off a loss.

Toeing the bump for the third time this season will be Chicago’s Jose Contreras. The right-hander comes into this spot 0-2 on the year with a lofty 6.97 ERA and 1.65 WHIP allowing 12 hits and eight earned runs with a K/BB ratio of 7/5 in just over 10 total innings of work. Though he was saddled with the loss his last time out against the Detroit Tigers, he looked much better than in his initial start of the season against Minnesota. Last year, Contreras posted a 2-0 record with a 1.32 ERA against the Orioles and has a 5-4 record with a 4.64 ERA lifetime against Baltimore; he’s 2-1 in his career at Camden Yards

Making his big league debut this evening will be right-hander Brad Bergesen. The organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season went 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk the last couple weeks. He’s been waiting around for a roster spot to open up, and now that one has with the injury to Alfredo Simon, he’s looking to make his mark. With nobody else even remotely close to moving up, look for Bergesen to stick provided he doesn’t get blown up.

With the Palehose preferring right-handed pitching in the early goings of 2009 (.277 batting avg. compared to .258 batting avg. vs. lefties), and the fact that they’ve teed off for a .287 average their L/10, I’m looking for them to knock the rookie around a bit tonight. Contreras pitched four shut-out innings at Detroit his last time out and 59 of his overall 96 pitches thrown went for strikes. This looks to be as good a spot as any for him to earn his first victory of the season; especially since he boasts solid splits against Baltimore in his career.

Rose’s Recommendation: 3* Chicago -110

(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)