Twins White Sox Betting – White Sox Protects Homefield Advantage, Take Down

Sports betting players are watching a strange year in the American League Central, and two of the teams will go at it in the Windy City this weekend as the White Sox host Minnesota in a four-game set. Both teams have had a wild first half to their 2011 campaign, but the White Sox will come away with a series win to carry into the All-Star break.

• What: MLB Betting
• When: Thursday, July 7th – Sunday, July 10th
• Where: Cellular Field, Chicago, IL
• Pick: Chicago White Sox

Thursday, 8:10 PM ET – Carl Pavano (5-6, 4.19) vs. Philip Humber (8-4, 2.69)

Pavano has allowed eight earned runs in his last 13.2 innings of work, but he has gone at least seven innings in eight of his last 10 starts, which takes pressure off the bullpen. The 35-year-old right-hander is 7-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 10 starts against the White Sox, and a win last month was his fourth complete game against Chicago. He is also 2-1 in three starts at Cellular Field despite an ERA of 5.19. The White Sox counter with Humber, who has won five of his last six starts, and he has been their best starter all season long, surprisingly. The 28-year-old righty also has 13 relief appearances for Minnesota under his belt, so he may have some insight into the lineup, although given the familiarity of these division rivals, there probably aren’t many surprises. He earned a win in 2.2 innings of relief work against the Twins last season, which is his only time facing Minnesota.

Minnesota has the edge in experience with Pavano, but Humber has been fantastic lately and he has motivation to beat his former team. Look for Humber to continue his fine form heading into the All-Star break.

Betting Edge: Chicago White Sox

Friday, 8:10 PM ET – Nick Blackburn (6-6, 4.02) vs. Gavin Floyd (6-8, 4.17)

Blackburn hasn’t gotten out of the fourth inning in his last two starts, allowing 13 earned runs, and those outings were at home. Now he heads to Cellular Field, where he is 3-5 in nine starts with a 3.56 ERA. However, the 29-year-old righty is 8-5 in 16 games (15 starts) against the White Sox with a 3.44 ERA, so he won’t be fazed by taking on the Twins’ Central rivals. Floyd is 0-3 in his last five starts, and the White Sox have scored 11 runs in those starts, so he’s going to need some run support to snap out of his jinx. The 28-year-old right-hander is 4-9 in 14 starts against the Twins, posting a 5.20 ERA, and he’s only 2-3 in six starts at home with a 5.21 ERA.

Floyd may be getting frustrated by a lack of run support and while he’s been trying to hold it together, it could get rocky for him on Friday night, while Blackburn is due for a good outing. Go with the road team in Friday’s MLB betting picks.

Saturday, 4:10 PM ET – Brian Duensing (6-7, 4.25) vs. Mark Buehrle (6-5, 3.66)

Duensing is coming off a complete-game win at home over Tampa Bay, but he has walked four batters in each of his last two games, and eventually if you keep putting people on base, they’re going to get driven in. The 28-year-old has never lost in 10 games (four starts) against the White Sox, going 4-0 with an ERA of 2.50, and he’s 3-0 in four games (two starts) at Cellular Field with a 3.78 ERA. The White Sox have won Buehrle’s last three starts by one run each, but he has taken a no-decision in all three games, two of which were ninth-inning comebacks. The 32-year-old southpaw has plenty of experience against Minnesota, going 25-19 in 48 games (46 starts) with a 4.03 ERA, and he is 4-1 in eight starts with a 2.83 ERA at Cellular Field.

Buehrle has been incredibly consistent recently, allowing three runs or less in his last 10 starts, combined with his success at home, look for the crafty lefty and the White Sox to win as a baseball betting favorite today.

Betting Edge: Chicago White Sox

Sunday, 2:10 PM ET – Scott Baker (7-5, 3.01) vs. Jake Peavy (4-2, 4.83)

Baker has won five of his last six starts, giving up eight earned runs in those starts, but you have to confirm that he will be on the mound on Sunday as he left his last start against Tampa Bay with a strained elbow. The 29-year-old is 6-3 in 14 starts against the White Sox with a 5.91 ERA, and he is 4-1 in five starts at Cellular Field, despite a 6.11 ERA. Peavy has allowed nine earned runs in his last 12 innings of work, and while he has shown glimpses of the form that made him a National League Cy Young winner in 2007 with San Diego, he hasn’t been consistent at all. It may even be encouraging that Peavy is still in the rotation and not on the disabled list. The 30-year-old has a pair of no-decisions against the Twins with a 2.84 ERA, and he is 3-2 in five games (four starts) at home with a 4.45 ERA.

Minnesota has to be worried about Baker’s elbow, while Chicago should be concerned that a relief outing three appearances ago may have thrown Peavy off. Still, he’s healthy, and that is enough to take the White Sox for an online betting win.

Betting Edge: Chicago White Sox