The Baltimore Orioles (32-39, 43-27 RL, 32-35-3 O/U) take on the Chicago White Sox (33-35, 32-35 RL, 33-31-3 O/U) in the second game of a three-game AL series on Friday evening. The Orioles will give the nod to Austin Voth. The White Sox will reply with Michael Kopech. The White Sox went 7-0 against the Orioles last season.
Orioles win opener
Baltimore is a young team starting to display its potential. They won two of three against the Rays last weekend and posted one victory in two meetings against the Nationals this week. The bullpen has especially been effective, ranking seventh overall. They beat the White Sox 4-0 in the series opener on Thursday.
Anthony Santander continues to excel, bashing four big flies with six RBIs in his last eight games. The 27-year-old slugger features a .917 OPS this month and now has 13 homers, 36 RBIs, and a .782 OPS on the year. Santander only went 5 for 27 against the White Sox last season.
The Orioles are averaging 4.07 runs per game, ranking them 22nd overall. The pitching staff has accrued a 4.21 team ERA, pegging them 23rd in the Majors.
Kopech Eyes Third Win of Season
The White Sox will have Michael Kopech will make his 13th start of the season. Kopech had trouble in his latest effort, squandering four runs in five innings against the Astros, and was tagged with the loss to fall to 2-3 on the season. The young right-hander is effective, allowing two or fewer runs in all but three outings, and has fielded a solid 2.38 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in 56.2 innings pitched on the season. Kopech recorded two scoreless innings in his lone career meeting against the Orioles last season.
Chicago continues a homestand in this one. They won two of three against a good Blue Jays squad this week but are three games still below the .500 mark at home. The Sox have won two out of their last three series. Yoan Moncada and Eloy Jimenez remain out of action.
Luis Robert has played a key part in many of the White Sox's recent wins, collecting a whopping 15 RBIs in his last nine games. The 24-year-old center fielder features a .300 average with 36 RBIs and a .762 OPS. Robert did not play against the Orioles last season.
The White Sox are averaging 4.29 runs per game, ranking them 19th overall. The pitching has amassed a 4.17 team ERA, tabbing them 21st in the big leagues.
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
The Orioles are an improved team but are nine games below .500 on the road. The White Sox are playing better recently. They have won six out of their last nine games after recording a series win against the Blue Jays this week. Furthermore, Michael Kopech is having a great season. He has limited his opponent to two or fewer runs in nine of his 12 performances. It’s especially challenging to solve him at Guaranteed Rate Field where he features a minuscule 1.57 ERA.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
I expect a barrage of runs. The Orioles can hit. They have averaged 4.9 runs in their last ten games. Kopech will contain them however the right-hander has only pitched more than five innings in one out of his last four starts and the Chicago bullpen ranks 22nd overall.
In addition, the Chicago bats are clicking. They have now registered five or more runs in eight out of their last ten bouts. The over is also 5-1-1 in the White Sox’s last seven games.