in MLB Free Picks

Dye in running for MVP

Jose Contreras got the Chicago White Sox off to a strong start on their crucial West Coast trip with a second straight dominant performance on Monday with a 3-2 win.

Contreras threw eight strong innings of one-run ball for the second consecutive start to keep Chicago within 1.5 games of wild card-leading Minnesota Twins.

The White Sox hope Mark Buehrle can have a similar outing tonight as they continue a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. 

Buehrle (12-12, 4.80 ERA) is 3-1 with a 3.82 ERA over his last five starts after dropping six straight decisions between July and the start of August. The left-hander couldn't maintain that momentum in his last outing, though, giving up five runs and 10 hits in just four innings in a 9-1 loss to Cleveland on Thursday.

Buehrle is 1-3 with a 4.19 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) against the Angels. He lost to them Aug. 7, allowing six runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-3 defeat.

The left-hander was one of four Chicago starters that pitched a complete game against the Angels in last year's ALCS, beating them 2-1 by giving up one run and five hits in a 2-1 win in Game 2.

The White Sox (83-61) will need their pitching staff to regain the form that led the team to a World Series title last season just to make the playoffs this year. With two more games against the surging Angels and three against AL West-leading Oakland on this trip, followed by a three-game home series against AL Central-leading Detroit, Chicago will hope to get strong efforts from its starters during a stretch that could go a long way toward determining their postseason fate. The White Sox are three games behind the Tigers, who were off Monday.

Including three victories in the ALCS, Chicago has won its last seven games at Angel Stadium.

Los Angeles (77-67) will counter Buehrle with Ervin Santana (14-7, 4.53 ERA), who defeated Baltimore 8-4 on Wednesday. Santana allowed four runs and seven hits, including three homers in seven innings.

The right-hander has given up at least four runs in four of his last five starts.
Santana is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in three starts against the White Sox, including 1-0 with a 5.54 ERA in two starts against them this season.

Notable game trends:

- White Sox are 3-0 in their last 3 games as a road underdog.

- White Sox are 20-9 in their last 29 vs. American League West.

- White Sox are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a win.

- White Sox are 9-2 in the last 11 meetings.

- Angels are 3-0 in their last 3 games following a loss.

- Angels are 7-2 in their last 9 home games vs. a left-handed starter.

- Angels are 14-5 in their last 19 home games.

- Angels are 12-5 in their last 17 games as a home favorite.

- Over is 3-0 in Santana's last 3 starts vs. White Sox.

- Under is 6-2 in Buehrle's last 8 starts vs. Angels.

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