The American League Central is not a hotbed of elite MLB play to this point, as the top team in the division, the Minnesota Twins, have a record of just 23-19 and are the only team in the division with a positive record or run differential. Last year’s division champs, the Cleveland Guardians, sit three games back with a 19-21 record. The Chicago White Sox were seen as a team with a chance to contend, but they have started with a brutal 14-28 record that has them nine games out of first. The Guardians head to Chicago for a three-game midweek series against the White Sox, and if these matchups are part of your MLLB betting plan, don’t miss our predictions.
MLB Series Spotlight: Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox (May 16-18) | MLB Lines
Shane Bieber (3-1, 2.61 ERA) (CLE) vs Lance Lynn (1-5, 7.51 ERA) (CHI)
When: Tuesday, May 16, 8:10 pm ET
Where: Guaranteed Rate Field
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Shane Bieber has been a reliable starter all season long, finishing six or more innings in all but one of his eight outings. His last three starts have been even more dominant, as he threw 21 innings combined against Boston, the Yankees and Detroit. He held Boston and the Yankees to two runs apiece on ten combined hits, and he scattered seven hits and a walk over six shutout innings against the Tigers on Tuesday, striking out nine to get his third win of the season. He has left two games with the lead, only to see the bullpen cough things up after his departure.
Lance Lynn has only permitted fewer than four earned runs in an outing twice this season – March 31 and April 11. His last outing was particularly disappointing for two reasons – he only made it five innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits, including a pair of home runs – and he put up those numbers against the Kansas City Royals, whom few sports betting experts consider to be a competitive team. Lynn has also allowed at least one home run in all but one of his starts this season, so he’s definitely finding a lot of the heart of the plate. Cleveland to win.
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Peyton Battenfield (0-4, 4.45 ERA) (CLE) vs Mike Clevinger (2-3, 4.79 ERA) (CHI)
When: Wednesday, May 17, 8:10 pm ET
Where: Guaranteed Rate Field
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Peyton Battenfield started the season well, only permitting two earned runs combined against the Yankees and the Tigers. However, the offense has not helped him at all this year; since April 12, when Cleveland managed three runs in a loss to the Yankees, the Guardians have either scored a single run or been shut out in Battenfield’s starts. His stamina is increasing; he went seven innings against the Twins on May 5, allowing two runs on two hits, including a home run, in a hard-luck 2-0 loss. Can the offense help him out against one of their former hurlers?
Mike Clevinger returns to face his former team with some large numbers of his own. He started off the year with five shutout innings in a 6-3 win over Houston and got his second win thanks to a lot of offense six days later against the Pirates. Since then, though, he has not gotten a lot of help from his offense. He threw six innings of one-hit, scoreless ball against Baltimore on April 14, but the bullpen imploded in a 6-3 loss. In his last start, Clevinger looked serviceable, allowing three runs on three hits, including a home run, in a tough-luck 4-3 loss. He has permitted at least one home run in five straight starts. Guardians to win.
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Logan Allen (1-1, 3.43 ERA) (CLE) vs Dylan Cease (2-2, 4.86 ERA) (CHI)
When: Thursday, May 18, 2:10 pm ET
Where: Guaranteed Rate Field
Live Stream: ESPN+
Logan Allen’s first start of the year was very impressive; against Miami, he threw six innings of five-hit, one-run ball, striking out eight while walking just one. Since then, his outings have gotten shorter and shorter (4 ⅓ innings against the Angels on Friday) and he has permitted more runs (three runs on eight hits against the Angels). His numbers aren’t getting out of hand, but he’s not a dominant pitcher right now.
Dylan Cease looked like an ace through his first four starts, with a 2-0 record and a 2.01 ERA. Since then, things have gotten a bit ugly, as he has only finished six innings once in his last five starts. That one start was his most recent, though, as he shut out the Houston Astros, scattering four hits and two walks while striking out five. Does he have his dominant stuff back? Then the White Sox should do all right. But can the Chicago bats get to Allen? White Sox to win.
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