Angels vs White Sox Betting Preview

Angels Streaking, White Sox Reeling

Two teams heading in opposite directions are set to square off. The visiting Los Angeles Angels have won five games in a row while the Chicago White Sox are 1-9 over the last 10 games. The current state of affairs for both teams will factor into the Angels vs White Sox betting preview.

The White Sox have given up at least five runs in five of the last seven games. Even with all the struggles, the Chicago White Sox’s odds to win the American League Central are -180, which is well ahead of the division-leading Minnesota Twins (+275).

The Angels have the AL’s best winning percentage on the road with a 5-2 record.

There couldn’t be a better way for this four-game series to get underway than the Angels’ Noah Syndergaard getting the ball to face off against Lucas Giolito of the White Sox.

Game Information

Team records: Los Angeles Angels 13-7 (first in the AL West), Chicago White Sox 7-11 (third in the AL Central)
Dates: Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET (teams also play on Saturday at 4:05 p.m., Sunday at 2:10 p.m. and Monday at 2:10 p.m.)
Location: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago
Television: Saturday’s game is on FS1 while Monday’s game is on ESPN+.

Angels vs White Sox Probable Starting Pitchers

Friday: Noah Syndergaard (Angels) vs Lucas Giolito (White Sox)
Saturday: Jose Suarez (Angels) vs Vince Velasquez (White Sox)
Sunday: Michael Lorenzen (Angels) vs Dallas Keuchel (White Sox)
Monday: Patrick Sandoval (Angels) vs Dylan Cease (White Sox)

Angels Hitters Scorching Hot

Eight players on Los Angeles have a better batting average than reigning American League Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani. That is a pretty good indication that this is a lineup that no pitcher wants to come up against as the Los Angeles Angels vs Chicago White Sox series is ready to get underway.

Taylor Ward is leading the way with a .381 average and four home runs. Ward didn’t even take his first at-bat during the 2021 season until May 5. He recently came a single short of hitting for the cycle and he had seven hits in the recently completed four-game series against Cleveland, with three of them leaving the park.

Fellow outfielder Brandon Marsh comes into the series with a .340 average and a pair of homers. He has hits in seven of his last eight games.

The Angels lead the American League with 99 runs scored, even though Ohtani is hitting only .238. That is a key part of the Angels vs White Sox betting preview.

Mike Trout, the other former MVP on the Angels team, is already in midseason form with a .352 average and five homers.

Injuries Plaguing White Sox

When the Chicago White Sox are healthy, this is a scary lineup. However, having all the pieces to put on the lineup card has proven to be a challenge. That certainly factors into the Angels vs White Sox betting preview.

Third baseman Yoan Moncada is on the 10-day injured list while outfielder Luis Robert is day-to-day. Not one of the White Sox players has appeared in all 18 games as slugging first baseman Jose Abreu leads the squad with 17. There are 14 players with at least 20 at-bats. That would be perfect if this was a Little League team and the rules indicate that everybody on the roster is required to get a certain amount of plate appearances.

If not for the play of 24-year-old Andrew Vaughn, one has to shudder at what the record could be for the White Sox. Vaughn is 9-for-19 with two doubles and three homers in six of Chicago’s wins.

Who’s Hot

Matt Foster, White Sox P: Foster hasn’t allowed a run in his last four appearances. In five innings, he has given up three hits and struck out five.
Yasmani Grandal, White Sox C/DH: Grandal has hits in each of his last five games with two doubles and three walks.
Raisel Iglesias, Angels P: Iglesias has allowed just one hit and no runs in his last five appearances. Iglesias has struck out seven of the last 14 batters he faced.
Brandon Marsh, Angels OF: Marsh is 6-for-15 with four RBIs and two stolen bases in his last four games.

Who’s Not

Aaron Bummer, White Sox P: Bummer has walked four batters and allowed five runs in 2.2 innings in his last two appearances.
AJ Pollock, White Sox OF: Pollock is 0-for-15 with seven strikeouts in his last four games.
Kurt Suzuki, Angels C: Suzuki is 0-for-10 with three strikeouts in his last three games.
Jose Suarez, Angels P: Suarez has allowed nine hits and six runs in his last two games.

Injury Update

The Angels are without shortstop David Fletcher (hip) while pitcher Griffin Canning (back) is on the 60-day injured list. Relievers Jose Quijada (oblique), Cooper Criswell (shoulder) and Chris Rodriguez (shoulder) are currently sidelined.

For the White Sox, third baseman Yoan Moncada as well as pitchers Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn are on the 10-day injured list. Outfielder Luis Robert and reliever Liam Hendriks are considered day-to-day. First baseman Yermin Mercedes (hand), outfielder Eloy Jimenez (hamstring) and infielder Josh Harrison (back) are also out.

Angels vs White Sox Betting Tips

The White Sox have a team ERA of 4.22 over the last six games. If not for starting pitchers Michael Kopech and Dylan Cease, that number drops to 5.06. It is no wonder that Chicago is struggling to stay ahead of Cleveland and Detroit in the AL Central standings. The Angels have nine home runs and 21 extra-base hits in its last seven games.

The Angels have won seven of their last nine games on the road against the White Sox.

The total has gone over in four of the last six games in the series.

Just two of the last eight games between the Angels and White Sox have been decided by one run. There have been at least nine combined runs in eight of the last 12 contests between the teams.