Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Guardians Predictions

Williams gives Cleveland the pitching edge

Gavin Williams is the strongest reason to favor Cleveland in Game 2. The FOX Sports / Associated Press preview lists Williams at 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 248 strikeouts, compared with a 10-9 record, 4.50 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 129 strikeouts for Chicago left-hander Anthony Kay. That matchup makes the Guardians the likely winner, but their -163 moneyline asks bettors to pay heavily for the advantage.

Chicago’s form makes -163 difficult to back

The White Sox lead the best-of-five ALDS 1-0 and went 8-6 against Cleveland during the regular season. They’re also 8-2 over their last 10 games, with a .276 batting average, 3.34 ERA and plus-31 run differential. Those results don’t make Chicago the likelier winner, but they leave little value in laying -163 with Cleveland.

Cleveland is 7-3 over its last 10 games with a 3.27 ERA and plus-15 run differential. Its 41-40 home record was only slightly better than .500, while Chicago went 36-45 on the road. The starter matchup points to the Guardians, but the broader evidence isn’t strong enough to justify the price.

No play on the total

The SPF total is 6.5, with the over priced at -120 and the under at +100. Without confirmed lineups, weather information or current bullpen data, there isn’t enough evidence to choose either side of such a low number. The moneyline and total are both passes.