The 2022 MLB season goes on Friday, July 8, with the AL Central showdown at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, so we have prepared the best Tigers vs. White Sox betting pick along with the latest odds update on Bookmaker Sportsbook. 

Detroit and Chicago continue a four-game series with Game 2, and the White Sox are -157 moneyline favorites to grab a win. Thursday’s opener is not included in the analysis, while Chicago has gone 5-1 in its first six meetings with Detroit in 2022. 

The Tigers just swept the Guardians at home                                       

The 34-47 Detroit Tigers entered Thursday’s battle at Guaranteed Rate Field riding a four-game winning streak. Last Wednesday, the Cats defeated the Guardians 8-2 to sweep a four-game series against Cleveland and wrap up their seven-game homestand with a 5-2 record. 

The Tigers now own the second-lowest scoring offense in the majors, racking up 3.20 runs per game. In the last seven days, they’ve registered a strong .277/.357/.416 slash line with seven home runs and nine extra-base hits across 231 at-bats. 

Tarik Skubal will toe the slab Friday in Chicago and meet the White Sox for the first time since the opening week. The 25-year-old lefty was charged for a loss in a 10-1 defeat at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 10, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits across four innings of work. Skubal is 5-7 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 16 starts (88.2 innings) in 2022. 

The White Sox beat the Twins to avoid a sweep            

The Chicago White Sox outlasted the Minnesota Twins 9-8 in ten innings this past Wednesday to avoid a sweep in a three-game series at home. It was their fourth victory in the last six outings, as Chicago improved to 39-41 on the season. 

Eloy Jimenez returned from a hamstring injury last Wednesday and went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. He’s been shelved since April 23, and Eloy’s presence is a massive boost for the White Sox on both sides of the ball. In the last seven days, Chicago is hitting .285/.336/.394 with four homers in 221 at-bats. 

Lucas Giolito will toe the rubber Friday and face the Tigers for the second time this season. Back on Opening Day, Giolito allowed just one hit across four scoreless innings, but the White Sox lost 5-4 to the Tigers. The 27-year-old righty is 5-4 with an underwhelming 4.90 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 14 starts (75.1 innings) in 2022.  

Trends:

Detroit: 

  • 7-13 in the last 20 games on the road 
  • 0-5 in Tarik Skubal’s last five starts 

Chicago:

  • 8-2 in the last ten games against Detroit  

Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox Pick 

Lucas Giolito was awful in June, posting a 7.67 ERA and 6.00 FIP in five starts and 27 innings of work. He turned the corner last Sunday and dominated the Giants through six frames of a one-run ball. On the other side, Tarik Skubal is riding a five-game losing streak. He’s registered a bloated 7.80 ERA and 5.28 FIP over his previous six showings. 

The current White Sox have 25 hits, nine doubles, three home runs, and .814 OPS in 68 at-bats against Skubal. They are hitting .285/.342/.453 against the southpaws in 2022, so give me the hosts at the moneyline odds. 

Pick: Take Chicago White Sox at -157                                          

The Total:

I’m expecting the White Sox to take full advantage of Tarik Skubal’s poor form. On the other side, the Tigers have 45 hits, seven doubles, six homers, and .616 OPS in 172 at-bats versus Lucas Giolito. They should be able to score a run or two off the White Sox’s righty. 

However, I’m not looking for a high-scoring affair, as both bullpens own plenty of weapons. The Tigers ‘pen has registered a sparkling 1.29 ERA and 2.91 FIP in the last ten days and 35 innings of work, while the White Sox’s bullpen has accounted for a 4.65 ERA, 3.53 FIP, and 0.87 HR/9 across 31 frames in that span. 

Pick: Go under 8.0 runs at -125