Even though all 30 MLB teams will be in action on Friday, September 23, only a few games are must-watch, including this AL Central duel, and here you can get the best Tigers vs. White Sox betting pick and odds.

Detroit and Chicago will play the first of a three-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field, and the White Sox are -175 moneyline favorites on Bovada Sportsbook, while the total is set at 7.5 runs. These AL Central rivals have met 16 times this year, and the Yankees lead 12-4.

Tigers couldn’t sweep the Orioles

The Detroit Tigers surprisingly beat the Baltimore Orioles in two of three games of the road series and likely killed Baltimore’s dreams of playing in the postseason. Detroit didn’t manage to sweep the series as they lost 8-1 in Game 3, which was the seventh loss in the last ten games. The Tigers are two wins above the Oakland Athletics, who have the worst record in the AL.

Detroit scored its lone run in the 7th inning and had just three hits opposite Baltimore’s nine. It was a solo home run by Kerry Carpenter, while Matt Manning struggled in his start. Manning allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and five walks in 5.1 innings.

Eduardo Rodriguez (3-5) is getting his 15th start of the year when he meets the White Sox on Friday. The 29-year-old left-hander has a 4.35 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 59/28 K/BB ratio over 72.1 innings.

White Sox returned to losing ways against the Guardians

The Chicago White Sox lost both of the opening two games of a three-game series against divisional rivals Cleveland Guardians, perhaps their two painful losses of the campaign. After losing in extra innings in Game 1, the White Sox were beaten 8-2 in Game 2, while the final game of the series will be played on Thursday night. Chicago still has slim chances to reach the postseason, but they must sweep this series against Detroit.

The White Sox committed two early errors to allow Cleveland to score some easy runs, and following a 6-1 deficit after the first four innings, Chicago couldn’t make a comeback. Lance Lynn dropped to a 7-6 record after surrendering three runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk across 6.0 innings. Yoan Moncada homered for the White Sox, but that was a small consolation for him and his teammates in this heavy loss.

Lucas Giolito (10-9) will start for the 28th time this year when he takes on Detroit on Friday. The 28-year-old right-hander owns a bloated 5.07 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 158/55 K/BB ratio in 143.2 innings of work.

Trends:

Detroit:

  • 8-25 in the last 33 vs. American League Central rivals
  • 4-12 in the last 16 during game 1 of a series
  • 14-37 in the last 51 games vs. a right-handed starter

Chicago:

  • 8-1 in the last nine games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30
  • 5-2 in the last seven during game 1 of a series

Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox Pick

Lucas Giolito is having a solid month so far after struggling in June, July, and August. He didn’t allow more than three runs in three starts in September, unlike Eduardo Rodriguez, who has a 6.04 ERA this month. The White Sox are batting .277 against southpaws with 5.13 runs per nine innings, while the Tigers are just .214 BA with 3.11 runs against right-handers. The Tigers are 0-4 in Rodriguez’s last four starts and are 0-7 in Rodriguez’s previous seven starts vs. a team with a winning record. I am going with the White Sox to get a comfortable win here.

Pick: Take the White Sox at -1.5 Run Line (+130)

The Total

Both Rodriguez and Giolito registered over 4.00 ERA against the White Sox and Tigers, respectively, so I expect to see multiple runs scored off of them in this one. I am backing the home team to trouble Rodriguez early on and try to create a big lead, but Giolito will not pitch without issues as he struggles against the likes of Javier Baez, Jeimer Candelario, and Jonathan Schoop. Over is 5-0 in Giolito’s last five home starts vs. a team with a losing record; Over is 10-2-1 in the Tigers’ previous 13 road games, while Over is 8-1-1 in Detroit’s last ten games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.

Pick: Go Over 7.5 runs (-110)