Two of the American League's heavy hitters kick off a three-game set at Guaranteed Rate Field on Tuesday, with the Chicago White Sox hosting the Toronto Blue Jays at 8:10 p.m. ET.
These powerful lineups won't have it easy, though, as a pair of strong southpaws in Robbie Ray and Carlos Rodon get the ball for the series opener.
Which lefty has the edge? Find out with our best free MLB betting picks and predictions for Blue Jays vs. White Sox on June 8.
Blue Jays vs White Sox game info
• Location: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, IL
• Date: Tuesday, June 8, 2021
• Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
• TV: SNet 1, NBCS-CHI
Blue Jays vs White Sox odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Compare MLB odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
MLB Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonThe line opened at Chicago -141, with the total at 8.5. Early action has favored the White Sox, while the Over/Under has held firm. Check back later for a full report from Patrick!
Check out the full line movement for this gameBlue Jays vs White Sox betting preview
Starting pitchers
Robbie Ray (3-2, 3.57 ERA): Ray has been brilliant in his first full season with Toronto, reestablishing himself as a strong middle-of-the-rotation arm thanks to his ability to better find the strike zone. The typically wild Ray has cut down on his walks while still punching out batters at a high clip, leading to the best strikeout-to-walk rate of his career. Ray bounced back from a rough outing against the Yankees by delivering six solid innings against the Marlins in his last start, walking two and striking out nine.
Carlos Rodon (5-2, 1.98 ERA): The southpaw has put some injury-plagued seasons behind him and is having a breakout at 28 years old. Rodon hasn't slowed much since throwing a no-hitter in his second start of the season, as he has allowed one earned run or zero in seven of his nine starts. One of the two he didn't, though, came in his last outing when he was tagged for an uncharacteristic three bombs and five runs on nine hits to Cleveland.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Blue Jays: George Springer OF (Out), Alejandro Kirk C (Out), A.J. Cole RP (Out), Danny Jansen C (Questionable).
White Sox: Michael Kopech RP (Out), Billy Hamilton OF (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 6-0-1 in Rodon's last seven starts versus AL East teams. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. White Sox.
Moneyline pick
Not many people ahead of the season would have predicted that a Robbie Ray and Carlos Rodon pitching matchup in June would be a doozy, but that's exactly what we have here.
Both lefties have been pleasant surprises this year and been among the top starters on their clubs. The talent has always been there for both pitchers but control problems have been one common thing that has held them back. Each starter has corrected that, with both turning in career-low walk rates. That has helped Rodon lead the White Sox's starting staff in WAR, while the strikeout artist Ray looks like an absolute steal on a one-year, $8 million deal.
As good as they've been, these teams aren't pitcher-friendly matchups for any arm. The Blue Jays, behind MLB home run leader Vladimir Guerrero Jr., lead the AL in bombs, while the first-place White Sox have the top on-base percentage in baseball at .341.
What tips the scales for this matchup, though, is that no team hits southpaws harder than Chicago. And no team plays better on its home field, with the White Sox entering this series with a 23-10 record at Guaranteed Rate Field, including a mark of 9-2 over its last 11.
The Blue Jays offer great value at plus money, but the lefty-mashing White Sox behind the stud Rodon at home are too good to pass up.
PREDICTION: White Sox (-141)
Over/Under pick
Two very good pitchers going up against two great offenses — which side do you lean on for the Over/Under? Let's start with some facts.
In addition to clubbing more homers than any AL team, Toronto ranks second in the majors in OPS, fifth in OBP, and sixth in runs per game (one spot ahead of the White Sox).
Chicago, meanwhile, ranks well across the board in most relevant categories and has the best offense in baseball against lefties according to FanGraphs' weighted runs created plus, sporting an MLB-best 131 wRC+. The ChiSox also lead in slugging and OBP and rank third with a .276 batting average. They are a nightmare for left-hander pitchers, but Ray is no pushover.
The lefty carves up hitters with an above-average four-seamer and hard breaking stuff that he generates plenty of misses on, with whiff rates of nearly 50 percent on both his slider and curveball. With improved control, that has turned him into a major threat against any lineup and allowed him to work deeper into games.
The exact same can be said for Rodon, but he's been even better. The former first-round pick murders hitters with one of the game's best sliders and can touch upper-90s with his heater. Lefties can't hit him and righties haven't done much, either, leading to a sparkling 0.82 WHIP.
Once Rodon is done, Chicago will then turn to a bullpen that has the best strikeout percentage in the AL and the lowest walk rate, which helps lead to a Top-3 FIP in the majors. Toronto will be up against one good arm after another.
The Under has cashed in 12 of the combined 19 starts that Rodon and Ray have made and, as powerful as these lineups are, both teams have gone Over in fewer than half their games. The White Sox are cashing Overs at the fourth-lowest rate in baseball and we like good pitching to bottle up these dynamite offenses tonight.
PREDICTION: Under 8.5 (-113)
Blue Jays vs White Sox betting card
- White Sox (-141)
- Under 8.5 (-113)
Picks made on 6/08/2021 at 11:37 a.m. ET
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