Southside of Chicago – Rangers at White Sox

Texas Rangers vs. Chicago White Sox 8:11 ET

The AL West leading Texas Rangers (15-13 +$378) invades the Southside of Chicago this evening to partake in the first of three sports betting battles against the Chicago White Sox (13-14 -$123). These clubs squared off against one another in an MLB betting series last weekend that was won by the Rangers, 2-1. Many pundits had the AL West being down this year, and so far, they look to be right. Texas is currently perched atop the division with a 15-13 overall record that’s reeled MLB bettors in close to $400 on the year.

As a visitor, Texas was one of the best $$$-makers throughout the 2008 baseball betting season (39-42 +$990), and that trend has held true in ’09. The Rangers are currently .500 as a visitor, 7-7, but they’ve lined their betting backers with close to $300 worth of profits. Chicago made a statement in yesterday’s 6-0 US Cellular Field shut-out of the Detroit Tigers. In doing so, the victory saw them climb to a game over .500 at home, 7-6, but they’re still in the red in profits on the year down $30. Texas holds a 9-6 SU advantage over Chicago the L/3 seasons, but the Palehose have won each of their L/2 home series against the Rangers (4-2).

The White Sox currently sit as short -120 home favorites per the BetOnline MLB odds for the series opener; the game ‘total’ has been set at 11 over -115.

Lefty Matt Harrison will toe the bump this evening in search of his third win in a row. He comes into his sixth start of the season 2-2 with a lofty 6.41 ERA and 1.91 WHIP allowing 39 hits and 19 ER’s through 26.2 total innings of work. After issuing nine combined walks in his first two starts, he’s issued just three free passes in his L/3 outings. He picked up the win his last time out against these same White Sox in a game he allowed just six hits and no runs through five innings of work. A much better showing by him after getting throttled for seven hits and five ER’s in less than three innings of work in his first career start against Chicago last year.

Jose Contreras has proven to be the weak link in the White Sox starting rotation throughout his first five starts of the season. The Cuban is 0-4 with a sad 8.31 ERA and 1.85 WHIP allowing 34 hits and 24 earned runs with a K/BB ratio of 14/14 through just 26 total innings of work. He got lit up in Arlington by the Rangers offense last weekend where he surrendered seven hits (1 HR) and seven ER’s; he failed to make it to the 4th inning. The right-hander is now 1-7 his last eight decisions dating back to last season.

I always like to go with the losing pitcher whenever teams meet up again over a short time span. The whipping Contreras absorbed is still fresh in his mind, and he’ll want to atone for that sin in a big way this evening; especially since Manager Ozzie Guillen decided not to skip his turn in the rotation. Simply put, Matt Harrison is a gas can that’s overdue to get lit up. Chicago’s offense has to still be kicking itself for allowing him to dominate them last Sunday night. Look for the Palehose to feed off of last night’s big win and take it to the visiting Rangers in the first of this three-game set!

Rose’s Recommendation: 4* Chicago White Sox -120

(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)