MLB Predictions Preview …The Chicago White Sox send ace lefthander Mark Buehrle (9-10, 3.94 ERA) to the mound against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday night needing a win to protect their slim half game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central standings. Kansas City will look for a win on the arm of rookie righthander Luke Hochevar (6-10, 5.54 ERA).
MLB Predictions Betting Line …Oddsmakers at sports betting leader Sportsbook.com currently have the White Sox listed as -195 money line favorites with a 9-run betting total. The Royals are getting +182 money line odds as the underdog.
Buehrle featured some of his best pitching against the Red Sox on Friday, going seven-plus innings and allowing just one run, which scored from first after he left the game. The left-hander matched a season high with eight strikeouts and only one of the 21 outs he recorded went for a flyout. The rest were popped up, hit on the ground or went down on strikes. He's faced Kansas City twice this year. He got the loss after allowing two unearned runs against them on July 10, then had his worst start of the season against them on Aug. 2. Buehrle gave up 14 hits and eight runs over 4 1/3 innings to earn his 10th loss.
Hochevar has not won since July 11 against Seattle. In four starts since, he is 0-3 with a 7.48 ERA. In his last outing, a week ago against Boston, he slipped through four innings but then ran into trouble and surrendered five runs in the next two innings. Hochevar does well when he keeps his sinker down and induces a lot of groundouts, something he hasn't done consistently enough recently. Against the White Sox this season, Hochevar has started twice; he's 0-1 with a 6.17 ERA and the Sox hit .300 against him.
Jermaine Dye had a home run and three RBI as the White Sox cruised to an easy 9-0 win over the Royals on Tuesday.
The White Sox were winners as -187 home favorites in that contest, while the combined score just went UNDER the day's posted total (9.5).
Nick Swisher and A.J. Pierzynski also homered for the White Sox, who had nine hits on that night.
MLB Prediction …White Sox with Buehrle on the mound will prove too difficult for the Royals. Bet White Sox -195 ML.
