Game 1 of the four-game series between the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox will take place on Thursday evening in Chicago, Illinois, at Guaranteed Rate Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:40 PM ET and will air on Bally Sports Great Lakes and NBC Sports Chicago.
The Cleveland Guardians have one of the best records in the American League. They enter this game in first place in the AL Central and have the third-best record in the AL at 24-13.
The Guardians have won four of their previous five games by an average margin of 1.4 runs per game during that stretch. Cleveland has also won their last two series with series wins over the Los Angeles Angels at home 2-1 and the Detroit Tigers 2-1 at home. However, they lost their last road series 1-2 against the Houston Astros.
Cleveland won the previous series against Chicago earlier this season 2-1 at home and by an average margin of 1 run per game. The Cleveland Guardians will look to win their fifth game in their last six when they travel to face the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of the four-game series.
The Chicago White Sox avoided the series sweep on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays following a 4-1 win in Game 3 on Wednesday. However, they were outscored by Tampa Bay by an average of 3.33 to 4.67 runs per game during the series.
The White Sox have also been one of the worst teams in baseball this season as they enter the series against the Cleveland Guardians with a record of 9-28, which puts them in last place in the AL Central and gives them the 2nd worst record in baseball, only better than the Colorado Rockies. The White Sox have split the previous ten games in the series against the Guardians. However, in those contests, they have won three of the last five meetings by an average margin of .4 runs per game.
The Chicago White Sox will look to build momentum following the win on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays when they host the Cleveland Guardians for Game 1 of the series on Thursday evening.
WagerWeb lists the Cleveland Guardians as -145 moneyline favorites on the road against the Chicago White Sox for Game 1 of the series on Thursday evening. The teams have split the previous ten games in the series and have averaged four runs per game in those meetings, while Cleveland has won two of the last three games and has won by an average margin of 1 run per game in those meetings.
Ben Lively will face the White Sox for the first time in his career, while Erick Fedde didn't factor into the decision in his lone start against the Guardians. However, the White Sox lost the game.
Chicago has the 2nd worst record in baseball this season, while the Guardians have the 3rd best record in the American League and 1st place in the AL Central. Cleveland won the last series earlier this season 2-1 at home and won by an average margin of 1 run per game during the series. As a result, I am taking the moneyline for the Cleveland Guardians when they travel to face the Chicago White Sox for Game 1 of the series on Thursday evening.
