by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Apr 14, 2022
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Where to watch: ROOTNW, NBC Sports Chicago
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: White Sox -115, Mariners -105
BetMGM: White Sox -115, Mariners -105
Caesars: Even
Season record
Mariners: 2-4
White Sox: 4-1
What a strong opening weekend for Scott Rickenbach going 3-0-0 with his best MLB picks. Opening weekend definitely showcased some intriguing matchups in this very-early stages of baseball, but we know it's a six-month marathon, not a sprint, for some of these teams. The same applies for baseball betting and not getting too caught up with the sticker shock of it all. Catch Scott's plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Mariners - White Sox preview and analysis
Leave it to the rain for the Chicago White Sox to actually get to Robbie Ray. The White Sox admitted they did some extra homework during their 47-minute rain delay before the game started and figured out the best way to get to the reigning Cy Young winner.
The White Sox blasted three homers, led by Tim Anderson hitting a homer and driving in three during the pouring conditions at Guaranteed Rate Field, and the White Sox hung on to defeat the Seattle Mariners 6-4.
“We had a little chance to do homework. We had a plan,” Anderson said. “We succeeded with our plan and stuck to the plan throughout the whole game. We were able to pull out some more runs and stretch the lead a little bit.”
The series will continue on Thursday with the White Sox going for the three-game sweep.
The White Sox got to Ray by getting 10 hits on him over 6.1 innings. Leave it to how Ray handled the White Sox last year with Toronto, allowing just two total runs in 13 innings. This time, they got to him when needed and improved to 4-1 to start the season.
“The offense had a ton of respect for who we were facing. They came out there just trying to compete,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “You could tell he threw the ball better as the day went on. He’s a top-notch pitcher, but I gotta give our offense credit considering the conditions and everything. We came ready to compete.”
Anderson went 3-for-4, and Andrew Vaughn also chipped in with two hits. But Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert also homered in what was a complete effort all-around. Dallas Keuchel threw 5 scoreless innings and struck out five.
But the Mariners getting off to a 2-4 start is not what many expected, even if the sample size is small. Despite Ty France going yard and driving in two runs, not much else came from the Seattle side of things. Jesse Winker was robbed of a homer that would’ve tied the game, but nothing else from the top guys. Mitch Haniger went 0-for-4 and is batting .120 to begin the season.
“Robbie really competed his tail off,” said Mariners manager Scott Servais. “He really settled down to give us a chance to get back into the game.”
Seattle has plenty of time to get things rolling here, as everyone goes through slumps when they happen. But to see Haniger fall off the way he has is a problem early, and the onus on offense has fallen on the likes of Kyle Seager and Julio Rodriguez. But the complementary pieces are not playing well right now and things need to change before the Mariners eventually return home.
Prediction
I would normally think the Mariners would get back to business, but I think we’re seeing just how good the White Sox are right now. Again, it’s only five games, but we saw last year just how dangerous Chicago can be. So far, that’s translated into a new year. Time will tell how that alters things. Give me Chicago in the sweep. White Sox win 7-4
Betting trends
Mariners are 29-22 the past three seasons as a favorite of -110 or higher.
Mariners are 75-68 the past three seasons against right-handed starters (2-3 this season).
White Sox are 18-34 the past three seasons as an underdog between +100 and +150
Projected lineup
Mariners:
Adam Frazier (L) 2B
Ty France (R) 1B
Jesse Winker (L) LF
Mitch Haniger (R) RF
Abraham Toro (S) 3B
Eugenio Suarez (R) DH
Jarred Kelenic (L) CF
Luis Torrens (R) C
J.P. Crawford (L) SS
Adam Frazier (L) 2B
Ty France (R) 1B
Jesse Winker (L) LF
Mitch Haniger (R) RF
Abraham Toro (S) 3B
Eugenio Suarez (R) DH
Jarred Kelenic (L) CF
Luis Torrens (R) C
J.P. Crawford (L) SS
White Sox:
Tim Anderson (R) SS
Luis Robert (R) CF
Jose Abreu (R) 1B
Yasmani Grandal (S) DH
Eloy Jimenez (R) LF
Gavin Sheets (L) RF
Leury Garcia (S) 2B
Josh Harrison (R) 3B
Reese McGuire (L) C
Tim Anderson (R) SS
Luis Robert (R) CF
Jose Abreu (R) 1B
Yasmani Grandal (S) DH
Eloy Jimenez (R) LF
Gavin Sheets (L) RF
Leury Garcia (S) 2B
Josh Harrison (R) 3B
Reese McGuire (L) C
Starting pitchers
SEA: Logan Gilbert
CWS: Jimmy Lambert
Statistical leaders
Mariners:
Batting average: J.P. Crawford -- .421
Hits: J.P. Crawford -- 8
Home runs: Mitch Haniger -- 2
RBI: Mitch Haniger -- 5
Wins: Robbie Ray -- 1
Saves: Diego Castillo -- 1
ERA: Robbie Ray -- 1.29
White Sox:
Batting average: Luis Robert -- .350
Hits: Luis Robert -- 7
Home runs: Andrew Vaughn -- 2
RBI: Eloy Jimenez -- 7
Wins: Four tied -- 1
Saves: Liam Hendriks -- 2
ERA: Dylan Cease -- 1.80
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
