Free MLB Pick: New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox: July 30th 2009

New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox 8:11 ET
Click here to bet on the Yankees vs. White Sox at BetUS

So the Chicago White Sox (51-51, +$136) return home after losing six of seven sports betting battles to division rivals to take on the AL East leading New York Yankees (62-39, +$202). The prospects for Chicago over the next four days look bleak at best, and they could find themselves out of the AL Central race if they fail to step up in this series. New York, on the other hand, just took two of three against the Rays in Tampa Bay to increase its lead in the division to 3.5-games over the Boston Red Sox and 7.5-games over the Rays. Manager Joe Girardi’s club has secured victories in 11 of the 13 baseball betting games it’s participated in since the break, and is playing with utmost confidence. NY’s played five-games over .500 on the road this season (27-22, +$34), and is 10-4 the L/14 times it’s played away from Yankees Stadium. The stories much different on the south side of Chicago where Manager Ozzie Guillen’s club has struggled mightily since the Midsummer Classic. The Palehose have managed just six wins since, and are coming off a previously mentioned debilitating road trip to Detroit and Minnesota. As a host in ’09, the White Sox have posted a winning mark at 27-23, but they’ve cost their MLB betting backers $96 overall; they’re 7-3 the L/10 times they’ve welcomed an opponent into US Cellular Field. This will be these franchises first meeting this season; NY won the ’08 season series five games to two.

Lefty Andy Pettitte and the Yankees currently sit as short -125 road favorites against Gavin Floyd and the White Sox for the series opener; the ‘total’ sits at 9.5 under -125 per the current BetUS MLB betting odds.

Pettitte hasn’t scratched the win column since July 1st, and will be looking to do so when he toes the bump this evening in his 21st start of the season. He’s 8-6 on the year with a 4.67 ERA & 1.48 WHIP with a K/BB ratio of 85/47 through 121.1 innings of work; the Yankees went 13-7 in his 20 previous starts. He’s been at his best on the road where he sports a 4-2 mark with a 3.69 ERA allowing 43 hits and just 19 ER’s through 46.1 total innings; NY’s 2-1 in his L/3 road starts. Andy’s 9-8 with a 4.87 ERA & 1.49 WHIP in 19 career starts against the White Sox.

Gavin Floyd churned out his second consecutive quality start since the All Star break his last time out against Detroit. He ended up getting the no decision after the save was blown in the 9th, but he went 6.2 innings and allowed just six hits and two runs (one earned) with a K/BB ratio of 7/3. He’s been tough to beat when he’s toed the US Cellular rubber going 4-2 overall with a 2.70 ERA & 1.15 WHIP with a K/BB ratio of 55/19 through an even 60 innings of work; Chicago’s 7-2 in his nine home efforts. He’s 1-0 with a 4.85 ERA & 1.39 WHIP in two career outings against the Yanks and Chicago won both of the starts.

As clutch as the White Sox were the two weeks heading into the break, they’re far from it now. The Yankees are clicking in all facets of the game and aren’t to be overlooked right now. Floyd can pitch a gem and still lose because Chicago’s offense is laboring scoring just three or less runs in 7 of its L/10. The Yanks have dominated this series of late (10-3 L/13), and I look for more of the same tonight!

Rose’s Recommendation: 3* New York Yankees -125 (Pettitte/Floyd)
(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)