MLB Predictions 2012: Chicago White Sox vs. New York Yankees

Ivan Nova will be considered the ace of the New York Yankees starting rotation until after the 2012 MLB All-Star Game on July 10, as the club gets set to open up a four-game American League series against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night.

The Yankees have been sent out as minus-183 home favorites in the MLB betting odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total stands at 10.

New York announced on Wednesday, via MLB.com's Steven Miller, that it was placing CC Sabathia on the disabled list with a left adductor strain, while Andy Pettitte suffered a fractured ankle during the club's 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Nova (9-2, 4.25 ERA) will now have the opportunity to prove his earlier claim of being the best pitcher in the world (h/t Anthony McCarron, New York Daily News), as he looks to improve upon his 2-0 record and 1.37 ERA in three career starts versus the White Sox. The team has also won his last six trips to the mound overall.

Sports bettors will not find it hard to lay this juicy number, considering the Bronx Bombers are 7-2 in his last nine outings as a home favorite of minus-151 to minus-200.

Chicago won two of three against Minnesota to kick off its seven-game road trip, including a 12-5 blowout victory on Wednesday afternoon, pounding out a season-high 21 hits. The White Sox have managed to win 12 of their last 17 games away from the Windy City.

Dylan Axelrod (0-1, 5.54 ERA) is set to make his fifth appearance (third start) of the 2012 MLB season, and will face a lineup that leads the majors with 117 home runs. The 26-year-old right-hander will be facing the Yankees for the first time in his career.

I expect New York to play with some urgency in the series opener due to the recent injury news, sending Chicago to its 16th defeat in its last 21 tries in the Bronx.

Pick: New York Yankees -183

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