Major League Baseball Opening Day is less than two weeks away, which means the projected starters will be getting more playing time in the remaining spring training exhibition games. The Chicago White Sox will face the Seattle Mariners Friday night from Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Ariz.
First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 pm ET. Lance Lynn is the projected starter for the White Sox, and Marco Gonzales will be on the hill for the Mariners.
Looking at the MLB odds, this game is a pick ’em, with both teams listed at -115 on the moneyline.
Chicago White Sox Preview
Wins and losses need to be taken with a grain of salt in spring training. The first few weeks of camp are designed for the younger players to get most of the at-bats and innings on the mound.
The White Sox are in second-to-last place in the Cactus League with a 5-9 record. They did win their latest matchup, 9-7, over the Kansas City Royals.
The White Sox are touted as one of the best teams in the American League in 2021. The team is loaded with talent all over the diamond, so expect them to start winning some more games as spring training comes to a close.
Thus far in spring training, the team has not performed well at the plate or on the mound. Chicago is batting .243 at the plate with an on-base percentage of .329. Both these statistics put it in the lower third of all of baseball.
On the mound, the White Sox have tallied a 4.57 ERA, which put them 14th. The projected regular-season starters are Lucas Giolito, Lynn, Dylan Cease, Dallas Keuchel, and Carlos Rodon. They also have one of the best closers in the game with Liam Hendriks.
I am not worried about the White Sox based on their spring training record thus far, and you should not be either as a bettor.
Seattle Mariners Preview
The Seattle Mariners have not been much better than Chicago throughout spring training. The Mariners have a 6-7 record, but they did win Thursday against the San Francisco Giants. The difference between the Mariners and the White Sox is massive when you look at their starters.
The Mariners are projected to finish towards the bottom of the American League West, which is not as tough of a division as the American League Central. The main thing the Mariners are good at is defense, but it’s tough to consistently win without a solid offensive attack in the big leagues.
Seattle has been putting some great at-bats together in spring training. The team has an on-base percentage of .356, which is fourth in baseball. The team’s collective batting average is .241, but they are getting on base, which is more important.
The Mariners pitching has been their Achilles heel in camp, which will be the case in 2021. The pitchers have compiled a 5.42 ERA, and opponents are batting .285 off the staff. Marco Gonzales, who will start Friday night, is the Mariners’ best pitcher, and he has performed well in camp.
The Matchup
Lynn and Gonzales will be on the hill for their respective teams. Neither pitcher has given up an earned run in 2021 spring training. Lynn has recorded 12 strikeouts to Gonzales’ five during camp.
I think Chicago has the advantage because of their lineup. The defending Silver Slugger, Tim Anderson, is expected to play in this one.
The Mariners will feel his presence. Additionally, Adam Engel will be playing, and he has owned Gonzales in the spring.
No Seattle batters have seen Lynn in spring training. For these reasons, I am rolling with the White Sox in this one.
When making your MLB betting picks, take Chicago.
