American League Central rivals Chicago and Cleveland open their respective seasons this afternoon with a head to head battle at Progressive Field. Today's series opener is scheduled to get underway at 3:05pm ET. MLB Odds and Predictions have the divisional contest listed as a -110 moneyline pick'em and the Over/Under set at 8. The run line has the Indians at -1.5 for a +180 return.
The Indians, despite their poor finish, dominated the White Sox early last season, winning six of their first eight meeting
s with their divisional counterpart. Unfortunately for Cleveland fans their team was unable to keep up that pace against Chicago, losing six of the last seven meetings between the two clubs to finish the season series 9-9.
Cleveland will attempt to reverse its recent course against the White Sox today with staff ace Fausto Carmona on the hill. Carmona may be just the person to help the Tribe halt their Chicago slide as he toed the rubber in three of Cleveland's wins over Chicago a season ago. The Dominican native put together a 3-0 record in those three starts, giving up 12 hits and eight earned runs in 18 innings of work.
Carmona, who posted a 1.82 ERA last September, closed out the 2010 season with a 7-3 win at Chicago. The five year veteran struck out seven and walked one in the six inning appearance.
The White Sox, who many have pegged for an AL Central crown, will counter Carmona with 32 year old left hander Mark Buehrle. Buehrle is coming off a 13-13 campaign that saw him post the second worst ERA (4.28) of his 11 year career.
Buehrle does not possess the greatest numbers against the Indians (13-15, 4.64 ERA in 42 starts), but the White Sox did post a 5-1 record in his six 2010 starts opposite Cleveland. Chicago averaged 6.1 runs per game in those six games.
White Sox vs Indians Odds 2011 MLB Predictions:
Chicago White Sox +1.5 (-220), Over 8 (-115), -110 (Moneyline)
Cleveland Indians -1.5 (+180), Under 8 (-105), -110 (Moneyline)
