MLB picks: Padres vs. Angels, White Sox vs. Royals
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado sends a ball deep in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire)
September 3rd, 2020
The San Diego Padres go for the two-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night, while the Chicago White Sox begin a four-game set with the Kansas City Royals. Here are our best bets for the evening.
San Diego Padres (23-15) at Los Angeles Angels (12-25), 7:10 p.m. ET
Mike Clevinger makes his team debut for the Padres on Thursday night against the woeful Angels. Bettors should expect this surging San Diego squad (12-3 last 15 games) to chalk up another "W" in this spot.
Clevinger’s 3.18 ERA through four starts this season is right in line with his career ERA of 3.20 in five seasons with the Indians. The Angels, 21st in batting average this season (.233), will likely struggle to generate traffic on the bases against him. Clevinger will be backed by a Padres bullpen that’s 10th in the majors by ERA over the last week (3.14).
THE SOUND OFF THE BAT SAYS IT ALL.
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) September 3, 2020
ERIC HOSMER CAPS OFF AN 8️⃣-RUN 8TH INNING!#FriarFaithful | @Padres pic.twitter.com/jdNphI2oij
Countering for Los Angeles is Andrew Heaney, who has a 7.23 ERA in four starts against teams other than the Mariners this season. San Diego’s juggernaut offense, tops in the majors at 5.84 runs per game, will not make things easy for him – or the Angels’ 28th-ranked bullpen by ERA over the last week (7.47). Look for first baseman Eric Hosmer, 19-for-47 at the plate over the last two weeks with four homers and 16 RBI, to have another solid outing.
MLB pick: Padres moneyline
Chicago White Sox (22-15) at Kansas City Royals (14-23), 8:05 p.m. ET
The White Sox were held to one run in their series finale with the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night, but they should relish the chance for a rebound performance against Danny Duffy and the Royals on Thursday.
Duffy (2-2, 4.11 ERA in 2020) seldom gets the better of Chicago’s best batters – AL MVP candidate Jose Abreu is 19-for-59 (.322) all-time against him while shortstop Tim Anderson is 12-for-35 (.343). The White Sox young guns, namely Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert, aren’t afraid of Duffy either, as they’ve each hit a home run against him in just three and two career at-bats, respectively. Chicago should chase Duffy early, leading to extra opportunities to attack Kansas City’s 20th-ranked bullpen by ERA over the last week (4.91).
White Sox Tim Anderson, what a player, lead off hitter, 2 strikes, stays with it and gets a hit. Your going to get fooled and its how you make an adjustment. Professional hitter. @PeterCaliendo @CaliendoSports pic.twitter.com/t0EPHt22ix
— Baseball Outside The Box Podcast (@baseballout) September 2, 2020
Meanwhile, Dylan Cease gets the call for the White Sox. He limited the Royals to one run over 4 1/3 innings when he faced them last Saturday, lowering his season ERA to 3.00. It’s difficult to envision K.C.’s 29th-rated offense (3.84 runs per game) doing much damage against Cease or the Chicago bullpen.
MLB pick: White Sox moneyline
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