Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago White Sox: White Sox to start the crucial series with a win

Cleveland blew a home series against the San Francisco Giants and will now play another top MLB team, the Chicago White Sox. Is there nothing good awaiting the Guardians again? Let's pick a few options to bet on at once.

With all due respect to Kansas City and Cincinnati, whom Cleveland faced in the first series of the new championship, it was the confrontation with the San Francisco Giants that promised to show the current level of the team from Ohio. The Guardians did not do well at all against one of the best teams in the National League. Cleveland was particularly bad at bat, allowing only 4 runs in 3 games – 1-4, 2-4, 1-8.

The series with the White Sox is a great opportunity for Terry Francona's team to rehabilitate. The White Sox are the Guardians' American League Central Division rival. Cleveland's starting pitcher for the first game of the series is Triston McKenzie. The 24-year-old has pitched in two games this season, only one of them as a starter – against Cincinnati (7-3). There, McKenzie didn't allow a hit or a run in four innings.

Tony La Russa's team confirms the status as one of the top favorites to start the 2022 championship. The White Sox approach the series in Cleveland with a 6-2 balance. First, the Chicago Texans outscored Detroit 4-5, 5-2, 10-1 on the road. Then they took both home games from Seattle, 3-2, 6-4. Finally, they won 2 of 3 on the road against the very strong Tampa Bay Rays, 3-2, 3-2, 3-9.

Pitching for the White Sox in the first game of their divisional clash with Cleveland will be the experienced Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 American League Cy Young. In his debut game in the new league, the 34-year-old pitcher allowed three runs in five innings against Seattle (6-4) and recorded the eventual victory.

The 2021 season series ended with Chicago winning 10-9. In Cleveland, the White Sox beat the Guardians in 5 games out of 9.

The White Sox did not put much strain on the final game of their already-winning series with Tampa Bay, apparently focused on preparing for their first meeting with Cleveland. Undoubtedly, starting off in the divisional contest with a win, even on the road, is a key factor for the final success. And the experienced Chicago Texans will surely be up to the task. Moreover, the Guardians at the beginning of the championship season do not look like a serious contender for the mighty White Sox.

Prediction: a win for Chicago.

• W2 for 1.90;
• ITO2 (3.5) for 1.725;
• H2 (-1.5) for 2.625.

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