Two teams expected to contend in the MLB playoffs meet on Thursday night as the New York Yankees head west for a four-game set in Chicago against the White Sox. The Yankees (22-8) have won three in a row and eight of ten, including a 5-3 win over Toronto on getaway day today, and they come in leading Tampa Bay in the American League East by 4 ½ games. The White Sox (15-14) trail Minnesota by 2 ½ games in the American League Central, and while the Yankees have a +52 run differential, the White Sox have given up 13 more runs than they have scored. Check out our MLB betting preview of this Thursday night game between potential AL contenders.
MLB Preview: N.Y. Yankees at Chicago White Sox
(Thursday, May 12)
When: Thursday, May 12, 2022, 8:10 pm ET
Where: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago
TV: No National Broadcast
Radio: WFAN 660 AM New York City / WLS 890 AM Chicago
Live Stream: Sling TV
Projected Pitching Matchup: Luis Gil (0-0, 0.00 ERA) (NY) vs Vince Velasquez (2-2, 3.97 ERA) (CHI)
Why should you bet on the Yankees?
Luis Gil makes his 2022 debut for the Yankees on Thursday. His 2021 numbers included a 1-0 record and a 3.07 ERA. His first three starts in 2021, all in August, led to 15 ⅔ scoreless innings against Baltimore, Seattle and Boston. During September, though, Gil struggled, permitting eight earned runs on eight hits, including three home runs, in 9 ⅓ combined innings in a pair of starts against Toronto and Minnesota, and he was shut down after that September 13 outing against the Twins.
The Yankees got all five of their runs off the bat of Gleyber Torres and are now 15-2 in their last 17 games. He had a three-run homer in the fourth inning and a two-run single in the sixth. In his last 11 games, he has four home runs, and the Yankees are at their best 30-game record in 19 years. When the Yankees can get to at least five runs, they are 13-0, showing the strength of their pitching as well. The team had to overcome a pair of errors from shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, but as well as the Yankees are hitting right now, they can overcome a glitch or two.
Why should you put your money on the White Sox?
Vince Velasquez had a couple of rough outings in April, as Tampa Bay and Minnesota shelled him for eight runs on 13 hits over 7 ⅔ combined innings in losses on April 17 and 23. Since then, though, he has permitted just one earned run on seven hits over 10 ⅔ combined innings against the Angels and the Red Sox, picking up the win in both games ahd dropping his ERA from an unsightly 6.75 to 3.97. He struck out eight and walked just two in those two games combined.
The White Sox have turned an 8-13 start into a 15-14 record after 29 games, winners of seven of eight. The exception was a 12-9 loss to Cleveland on Monday that saw the White Sox blow a 9-2 lead in the top of the ninth inning. The Sox rebounded with a 4-1 win on Wednesday, and the Thursday game was postponed due to COVID-19 issues on the Cleveland roster. In Wednesday’s game, Lucas Giolito threw seven solid innings to win his second straight start, and Gavin Sheets hit a long ball in the second game in a row. Tim Anderson had three hits and a pair of RBI. Which hot team will win Thursday night?
Final Score and Prediction
Given that this is Gil’s season debut, and given the issues he had last September, I see the White Sox getting to the New York bullpen early. I predict a final score of Chicago 4, New York 2.
MLB Betting Odds
Love betting on baseball like in the MLB? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date MLB betting Odds for all Regular Season, Playoffs, and World Series games.
