The Chicago White Sox (3-1) will host the Seattle Mariners (2-3) on Thursday in the final game of their three-game series. Seattle took the opener 3-2 on Tuesday, and Wednesday’s game was not complete at the time of this preview.
Mariners bats struggle in third straight loss
After winning the first two games of the season against Minnesota, Seattle dropped its third straight game on Tuesday. Seattle left 11 men on base in that loss and went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Former Cincinnati Reds drove in both Seattle runs. Jesse Winker went 1 for 3 and drew two walks, and Eugenio Suarez went 2 for 4 and hit his first home run of the season.
Scoring has been an issue for the Mariners, who have not pushed across more than four runs in any of their first five contests.
Logan Gilbert, a 6’6 right-hander, will get the start on Thursday. Gilbert started 24 games as a rookie last season and went 6-5 with a 4.68 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Last Saturday, Gilbert pitched five innings allowing three hits, one walk, and one run off a solo homer, and did not get the decision in Seattle’s 4-3 victory over Minnesota. Gilbert faced the White Sox once last season and tossed two shutout innings, allowing one hit and picking up three strikeouts.
White Sox playing well
The White Sox are huge favorites to win the American League Central this season and hope to contend for the AL Pennant as well. After opening the season with a 5-4 road loss to Detroit, where the Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth, the White Sox have responded with a three-game winning streak.
On Tuesday, the White Sox left six men on base and went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. Chicago scored two runs in the game on ground ball fielder’s choices and the other on a solo home run by Luis Roberts in the sixth inning.
The White Sox will send Jimmy Lambert to the mound first Thursday. Lambert will be making his 2022 debut, and the bullpen should see plenty of work. Chicago’s bullpen is 12th in MLB with a 3.38 ERA through the first four games. Over the last two seasons, Lambert has appeared in a total of six games, making three starts and throwing only 15 total innings. He has a 5.40 career ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Lambert is also 1-1 lifetime with 12 strikeouts.
Full-Game Side Bet
Rating: 4 out of 5
The White Sox are sixth in MLB in slugging (.432) and runs scored (5.55 per game) and ninth in MLB in OPS (.734). The pitching has been excellent and ranked fifth with a 2.52 team ERA and has only allowed two home runs through their first four games, tied for the fewest in baseball.
Seattle is 28th in scoring (2.57 runs per game), 23rd in OPS (.590), and 28th with a .291 slugging percentage. The Mariners have also not pitched quite as well as Chicago ranking 13th with a 3.64 team ERA and have allowed 10 home runs, which are the second most allowed.
Although Seattle has the starting pitching advantage, with the way the Mariners have been struggling offensively, Lambert should be able to keep this game close through the first three innings. As the games go on, the Sox bullpen and offense will be too much for the Mariners.
Prediction: Chicago White Sox ML -110
St. Louis Cardinals moneyline (+129.0) 
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