MLB Picks: The Los Angeles Angels continue their American League Central road swing tonight as they prepare to take on the White Sox in Chicago. The Angels are coming off a road sweep of the Twins while the Sox just took three out of four from the Yankees at U.S. Cellular Field over the weekend. Online bookmaker BetUS.com has Los Angeles listed as a -140 moneyline favorite in tonight's MLB Picks: Angels vs White Sox MLB Betting Odds – August 4, 2009.
The Angels have been the hottest team in baseball since the break, going 14-3 and extending their lead in the AL West to 4.5 games over the Texas Rangers. Los Angeles pounded the Twins over the weekend winning 11-5, 11-6, and 13-4 at the Metrodome. Mike Scioscia's club has averaged an astounding 8.3 runs per game over their last 13 games, and it currently leads the majors in runs scored at 590.
The Angels look to extend their five game win streak tonight with seven year veteran John Lackey on the mound. It took Lackey a while to get into form after starting the season on the disabled list, but he has certainly looked the part of his former self in recent weeks. Los Angeles is 3-0 in his last three starts, with the Texas native giving up just 10 hits and three earned runs over 23.2 innings pitched.
Lackey is 3-1 in eight road starts this year with a 4.02 ERA; he is 0-3 in five starts against the White Sox over the last three seasons with a 3.79 ERA.
Chicago has rebounded from a difficult stretch where they won just one time in seven attempts by winning three of their last four games. The turnabout series against the Yankees brought the White Sox record to 54-52, leaving them two games behind the Tigers in the AL Central. Ozzie Guillen's squad is 30-24 at home this season.
Thirty-seven year old right-hander Jose Contreras gets the start tonight for the Sox. Contreras is 4-10 in 15 appearances this year with a 4.80 ERA. Chicago is 0-3 in his last three outings as he has allowed 20 hits, 10 walks, and 11 earned runs in 16.2 innings of work.
Tonight's game is scheduled to start at 8:11pm ET at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.
BetUS.com MLB Picks: Angels vs White Sox MLB Betting Odds – August 4, 2009
Los Angeles Angels -1.5 (+120), Over 9 (-120), -140 (Moneyline)
Chicago White Sox +1.5 (-140), Under 9 (+100), +120 (Moneyline)
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