The Boston Red Sox (70-70) are set to face the Chicago White Sox (32-109) in the second game of their three-game series on Saturday night. The matchup will take place at Fenway Park, beginning at 7:15 PM ET. This game presents an opportunity for the Red Sox to secure a series victory.
Starting for Boston will be Cooper Criswell, who has a record of 5-4 and an ERA of 4.14. The White Sox will respond with Garrett Crochet, who holds a 3-10 record and a 3.61 ERA.
Historically, the White Sox have a slight edge with a 6-4 record in their last ten encounters with the Red Sox.
**Note: This preview was created before Friday’s game took place.**
When it comes to MLB predictions, the insights provided are quite reliable.
White Sox Seek Offensive Revival for Crochet
The Chicago White Sox are struggling this season, currently holding the worst record in Major League Baseball. They are in a tough stretch, having lost 12 out of their last 13 games. Garrett Crochet has emerged as one of their standout pitchers, but the lineup has struggled to provide him with necessary run support. Despite his impressive performance of allowing only one run over his last two outings, the offense managed to score merely one run in those games, resulting in two losses. The team hopes to avoid wasting another strong start from Crochet against the Red Sox on Saturday.
Chicago is currently averaging 3.06 runs per game, ranking them near the bottom of the league. Their batting average stands at a low .220, placing them 29th overall. Additionally, their on-base percentage is .278, and their slugging percentage is .340, both of which are also last in the respective categories.
Gavin Sheets leads the White Sox with a .244 batting average, while Andrew Vaughn tops the team with 16 home runs and 60 RBIs.
The White Sox’s pitching has also faced challenges, giving up an average of 4.74 runs per game. Opponents boast a .258 batting average against them, ranking 27th in the league. Their collective ERA is 4.87, placing them at 29th, along with a WHIP of 1.46.
In his last outing, Crochet conceded three hits and one run over 3.1 innings, but the team fell to the Mets 2-0. To compete effectively, they will need another strong performance from him.
Injury updates for the White Sox reveal that Luis Robert (hamstring) and Miguel Vargas (eye) are questionable for the game.
Red Sox Looking to Break the Losing Streak
After splitting their previous series with Toronto, the Boston Red Sox have faced two consecutive series losses. They aim to reverse this trend and take the series lead against the White Sox on Saturday.
Boston has been performing well offensively, averaging 4.74 runs per game and holding a .256 batting average, which ranks fifth in the league. Their on-base percentage of .321 places them seventh, while their slugging percentage of .430 is also fifth.
Leading the Red Sox, Jarren Duran has a .294 batting average, while Rafael Devers has dominated the power department, recording 28 home runs and 81 RBIs this season.
However, the Red Sox’s pitching has been inconsistent, allowing an average of 4.16 runs per game. Their opponents have a .247 batting average against them, ranking 21st, while their ERA stands at 4.18, placing them at 20th. They maintain a WHIP of 1.25, which is 14th in the league.
In his most recent start, Criswell allowed no runs over four innings but still ended up with a loss against Detroit, as the team fell 4-1. A repeat of this solid performance will be crucial for Boston’s success in Saturday’s contest.
Key Betting Insights for White Sox vs. Red Sox
Recently, the Red Sox have won two out of their last three games at home, while the White Sox have faced difficulties, losing six of their last eight games on the road. Both teams are currently struggling offensively, with Boston scoring nine runs in their last three home games and the White Sox managing only 11 runs in their last three away games.
Given the recent performance, Boston holds an offensive advantage in this matchup. Crochet has struggled in his last few starts, allowing 11 runs over his last four outings. With Chicago’s bullpen also performing poorly, they may find it challenging to contain the Red Sox’s lineup. The White Sox have had difficulty against right-handed pitchers, and Criswell has been effective recently, allowing just two runs over his last three starts. Expect Criswell to limit Chicago’s scoring opportunities. The recommendation is to back Boston to cover the run line in this game.
