We’ll have a rubber match on tonight’s edition of ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball when the Cleveland Indians face the Chicago White Sox. With the exception of the Kansas City Royals, the AL Central has surprisingly been one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. Before play on Sunday, the fourth-place White Sox are only two games behind the division-leading Minnesota Twins.
Tonight’s pitching matchup is a dandy, as early-season Cy Young Award front-runner Shane Bieber gets the ball for Cleveland while Lucas Giolito goes for Chicago. Bieber has been the talk of baseball with his flawless start to the season; Giolito was that guy last season but has been anything but in 2020. Nevertheless, tonight could be a huge motivating factor in improving his performance.
Cleveland Indians at Chicago White Sox
Guaranteed Rate Field – Chicago, IL
7:00 p.m. EST (Watch: ESPN)
Starting Pitchers
CLE: Shane Bieber – R (3-0, 0.83 ERA/0.69 WHIP this season)
CHW: Lucas Giolito – R (1-1, 5.17 ERA/1.40 WHIP this season)
Odds & Betting lines (bet365)
Total: 7.5 Runs | Over: +110 | Under: -130
CLE | Moneyline: -150 | Run Line (-1.5): +110
CHW | Moneyline: +130 | Run Line (+1.5): -130
Injury List
CLE: Roberto Perez -C (IL)
CHW: Edwin Encarnacion -DH (DTD), Tim Anderson -IF (IL), Nick Madrigal -IF (IL), Aaron Bummer -RP (IL)
Game Notes
Where’s the Money Going?
As of 1:30 p.m. EST today, here are the betting percentages:
– Moneyline: CLE, 75% of bets taken | CLE, 84% of all money wagered
– Run Line: CLE, 78% of bets taken | CLE, 78% of all money wagered
– Total: Under, 77% of bets taken | Under, 87% of all money wagered
Bieber Fever
In a total of 21 2/3 innings (three starts) to open the season, Bieber has allowed only 12 hits, three walks and two earned runs while striking out 35. He has yet to face the White Sox this season but owns a 2-2 record and 3.08 ERA in six career starts.
Abreu, Moncada Great BvP vs. Bieber
They’ll be getting a much different version of Bieber this time around, but Jose Abreu (6-for-15, 2 HR) and Yoan Moncada (6-for-15, 2 HR) have been quite successful against the young righty.
Betting Picks
Under 7.5 runs (-130)
I’m not in love with the price on this total but it really is the only place I’m willing to take a shot. Bieber has been talked about enough, but Giolito has plenty to offer as well. After a disastrous season opener, the imposing righty has allowed only eight hits, five walks and two runs while striking out 15 over his last two starts (12 innings); one of those starts was against these same Indians he’ll see tonight.
