MLB Betting Pick: Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins: July 28th 2009

MLB Betting – Game Match-up 7/28
Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins 8:10 ET
Click here to bet on this MLB game at BetUS online sportsbook

The second of three AL Central Division sports betting battles will take place this evening at the HHH Metrodome when the Chicago White Sox (51-49, +$338) lock horns with the Minnesota Twins (50-50, -$324) for the 11th time this season. The Twins grabbed a 1-0 series lead last night when Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the 6th inning, and starting pitcher Glen Perkins, Matt Guerrier, and Joe Nathan made it hold up by tossing three scoreless innings of work from that point on. The victory was the third in four tries at home against Chicago this season; Manager Ron Gardenhire’s club is a dominating 12-2 the L/14 times they’ve welcomed the White Sox into their own house. The loss dropped Chicago to 24-26 as a visitor this season, but they’ve still put $434 of baseball betting profit in their backer’s pockets. Since Buehrle tossed his magical perfect game, the Palehose are a bankroll depleting 1-4 (-$282). They sit two-games in back of the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers and eight-games in back of Boston for the Wild Card. The Twins have now won two in a row after dropping six of their previous eight with last night’s victory. The win improved their mark at home to 29-20 (+$343) where they’ve won three of their L/5 overall series’. They sit three-games out in the AL Central and nine-games in back of the Red Sox in the Wild Card race. After dropping four of the first five ’09 match-ups with the White Sox, they’ve secured victories in four of the L/5.

BetUS Sportsbook currently has Scott Baker and the Twins listed as -135 home favorites over Mark Buehrle and the White Sox for tonight’s AL Central clash with the game ‘total’ set at 8.5 under -120.

If you haven’t heard about Buehrle’s last start, you either live under a rock or have no interest in sports whatsoever. He became the 18th pitcher in MLB history to toss a perfect game, and was the first to do it since Randy Johnson pulled the feat off back in 2004. He ended up throwing 116 overall pitches and punched six Tampa Bay Rays out via the strikeout. He comes into his 21st start of the season 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA & 1.10 WHIP looking to take a step closer to the first 20 win season of his career. As a visitor, the southpaw is 4-2 with a 4.53 ERA & 1.24 WHIP. This will be his fourth start against Minnesota this season of which he’s 23-14 against with a 3.88 ERA & 1.34 WHIP in 38 career starts.

With Kevin Slowey most recently having season ending surgery on his wrist, the Twins will look to Scott Baker to be their ace. He was supposed to be at the onset of the season, but got off to a very poor start losing each of his first four starts. He found his stride in June going a perfect 4-0 with a 3.20 ERA, and stands 2-1 with a 5.24 ERA in July (only 3 ER’s L/2 starts). The righty is 8-7 overall on the year with a 5.04 ERA, and at home, he’s 4-4 with a lofty 5.70 ERA allowing 62 hits in just 60 total innings of work. This will be his third look at Chicago’s offense this season whom he’s 4-3 against with a 6.88 career ERA.

Familiarity breeds contempt! Both of these division rivals have seen tonight’s starters plenty of times, which gives us a positive pool to pull from when looking at tonight’s total. Eight of Baker’s 10 career starts have gone over the closing number against Chicago; Buehrle was pounded for 10 hits and eight runs in his lone Metrodome start this season. Something tells me the Twinkies get to him again tonight with him getting a ton of publicity since his last start. Chicago’s habitually pounded Baker as well. High scorer in the Baggie Dome!!!

Rose’s Recommendation: 3* CWS/MIN Over 8.5 +100 (Buehrle/Baker)
(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)