posted May 21, 2008 at 16:46 in MLB Free Picks

The Chicago White Sox got the best of the Cleveland Indians in last night’s online gambling affair, 4-1, by playing long ball and getting an excellent effort from their entire pitching staff. Carlos Quentin swatted his 12th homer of the season, and Jim Thome his eighth, while starting pitcher Jose Contreras tossed six innings of one run ball to help Chicago win its sixth straight. The bullpen also played a large roll throwing three combined innings of hitless ball. The victory was Contreras’ fifth of the year to go along with three losses, and the White Sox now stand 24-20 overall one and a half games in front of the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central. MLB bettors have brought home a nice chunk of change on the White Sox of late who are 7-3 their L/10 overall and +$534.00. As for Cleveland, the loss was their fourth in a row after their pitching staff tossed four shutouts in five games last week. Their bats have gone ice cold as they’ve amassed a total of 10 runs their last four games, and they continue to be a terrible MLB wager on the road where they now stand 8-11 overall. These clubs now sit tied at two games apiece in their 2008 season series.

Looking to get the Indians out of their rut will by rubber armed righty Paul Byrd. The veteran comes into tonight’s start 2-3 overall with a 3.61 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. He’s coming off one of his best starts of the year against Oakland where he threw 7 1/3rd innings of seven hit ball allowing no runs and striking out seven. He has been roughed up on the road however where he’s currently 0-3 with a bloated 6.53 ERA, and Cleveland’s 0-4 in all four of his road starts. Byrd is 9-2 with a 4.13 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 15 career starts against the White Sox and 4-0 with a 3.67 ERA in five starts at U.S. Cellular Field.

Javier Vazquez will look to put last outings no decision at Anaheim behind him by taking to the bump to face the Tribe for the second time this season. He’s 4-3 with a solid 3.53 ERA allowing 60 hits and 24 runs (23 earned) with a spectacular K/BB ratio of 58/12 in a tad under 59 total innings of work. His 58 K’s are the second most in the American League. He’s won two of his three starts at home against Minnesota and Detroit with the lone loss coming against the Yankees. In his career against the Indians, Vazquez is 5-4 with a 4.08 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 12 total starts. He earned the victory in two of his three starts against them last season, but lost his lone start against them this year to Fausto Carmona.

Oddsmakers opened Chicago up short –135 favorites in this evening’s baseball betting affair with the ‘total’ set at 8.5 over -120. BetUS.com offers all MLB betting odds be it side, total, or run-line, so be sure to login to your account and get your wagers down before the first pitch.

Chicago is 3-4 SU in Game 2 of a series after a win, while Cleveland is 3-5 in the second clash after losing in Game 1. That said, the Tribe’s 4-0 in Byrd’s last four starts against the White Sox and 7-4 in the last L/11 meetings in Chicago. Almost looks like stealing to lay the chalk with the home team in this spot. You know what that means…

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