Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox Prediction: Can the Red Sox Bounce Back Tonight?
Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox Prediction: Can the Red Sox Bounce Back Tonight?
The Boston Red Sox had a six-game winning streak snapped in last night's 3-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Chicago now leads the season series 4-1, and yesterday marked the first time the home team won a head-to-head matchup in the rivalry this year. Most of the games between these teams have been close, as six of the last 11 have been decided by one run.
Will the Red Sox return to their winning ways and stay unbeaten in the last five series (3-0-1 in the previous four), or will the White Sox continue the head-to-head dominance?
Read on for our prediction, best play, and the odds for Thursday's series finale between the Red Sox and White Sox.
White Sox vs. Red Sox Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: May 26, 2022
- Game Time: 8:10 pm ET
- Where to Watch: NBC Chicago, NESEN, BSWI
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White Sox vs. Red Sox Line Movement
Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox Prediction
The first two games in this series have been a tale of two games for the Red Sox offense. In Tuesday's dominant 16-3 win, each starter had at least one hit and scored one run, while eight of the nine produced an RBI. In the conclusion, the Red Sox had scored 95 runs in their previous 13 games, which matched their scoring total from the first 29 games of the season. Boston hit four home runs in that game, including one by Trevor Story, who has hit six home runs in the last six games. Story has been red-hot, with eight home runs and 28 RBIs in May after finishing April with no home runs and five RBIs.
While Boston managed just one run on seven hits yesterday, we expect a bounceback performance against Chicago's Dallas Keuchel (2-4, 6.60). The White Sox are 2-4 in Keuchel's last six starts, and he has allowed at least three earned runs in more than half of his seven starts.
Yesterday's 0-for-4 performance by White Sox leadoff hitter Tim Anderson snapped a streak of five consecutive multi-hit games. And we expect further problems for Chicago's offense over the next couple of days, as Luis Robert was added to the COVID-19 injured list. Robert leads the White Sox with six home runs, and his 17 RBIs are two shy of Anderson and Jose Abreu for the team lead.
Chicago beat Boston's Rich Hill last night, but the White Sox splits versus left-handed and right-handed pitching are drastic. Chicago is second in wRC+ (126) and third in wOBA (.337) vs. lefties but is 27th in wRC+ (83) and 27th in wOBA (.278) vs. righties. They now face Boston's Michael Wacha (3-0, 1.76), who is not expected to be a big innings eater for the Red Sox, as he has made it past five innings twice in six starts. However, he has also not allowed more than two earned runs in any start this season, and the team has won his last five starts.
We expect the Red Sox to get back to the offensive success they had over the two weeks before last night's loss, as they ranked first in wRC+ (156), wOBA (.388), hard-hit rate (43.6%), barrel rate (12.0%), and WAR (4.7).
Chicago is just 1-7 in its last eight home games against a right-handed starter, and Boston is 5-3 in its previous seven road games against the White Sox. The Red Sox are deserving small favorites in this one.
Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox Pick
PICK: Boston Red Sox ML (-115) (Bet $155 to win $100)
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