Chicago @ KANSAS CITY
Chicago -103 over KANSAS CITY (1st 5 inns)

BEST 5-INNING LINE: 5DIMES -104

Posted at 9:15 AM and updated at 10:25 AM EST. 

We could bring you up to speed on Royals starter Yordano Ventura but it’s not relevant because this wager has nothing to do with fading K.C.’s starter and everything to do with backing the most dominant pitcher in the game at a very cheap price. 

Clayton Kershaw is a -150 favorite or more almost every time he takes the mound on the road. At home Kershaw is usually a -220 favorite. Chris Sale has been every bit as dominating as Kershaw but he’s not priced like him and that provides us with great value in backing him. Sale is even better on the road than he is at home because U.S. Cellular Field is a hitter’s park. Sale has a phenomenal 1.41 ERA on the road, and in one start in Kauffman Stadium he allowed 4 hits and 0 ER in 8 IP. Kansas City's home OPS of .665 is 14th in the AL and ranks only .001 ahead of last-place Seattle. Over his last 33 frames, Sale has whiffed 42 batters. He has put up the best skills of any starter since the All-Star break. In fact, he has even increased his four-seam fastball velocity by 2.4 mph from the 1H to the 2H, more than any pitcher in the game. We’re not certain that Chicago’s manager, Robin Ventura will allow Sale to go more than five innings here because it’s not necessary. Why burn out or risk anything with your rotation anchor in a game that means nothing? Starters must go at least five innings to qualify for a win so Ventura and the White Sox brass will allow Sale an opportunity to pick up another W by allowing him to go at least five. It’s for that reason we’re playing this one in five innings. Sale has a great chance to win the Cy Young and if he were on the Tigers, Yanks, Red Sox or several others, he would be as big a lock to win it in the AL as Clayton Kershaw is in the NL.



Our Pick

Chicago -103 (1st 5 innings) (Risking 2.08 units - To Win: 2.00)

Baltimore -1½ +124 over L.A. Angels
San Francisco +100 over San Diego
Toronto +120 over Tampa Bay
Washington +135 over Cincinnati
San Diego under 83½ -105
Boston under 79½ -110