Chicago White Sox (36-117) vs. San Diego Padres (87-66)
On Friday, September 20, the 2024 MLB season continues with an exciting matchup between the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres. The game will take place at Petco Park in San Diego, California, starting at 9:40 pm ET.
This contest marks the beginning of a three-game series, with the Padres favored at -235 on the moneyline and the total set at 7.0 runs.
Struggling with handicapping? Try our MLB Predictions!
White Sox in a Slump
The Chicago White Sox recently experienced a brief resurgence, winning three consecutive games against the Oakland Athletics (7-6 and 4-3) and the Los Angeles Angels (8-4). However, they have since faced a return to their losing ways, dropping two straight games at Angel Stadium (5-0 and 4-3). Currently, the White Sox find themselves tied with the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics for the third-most losses in the Modern Era (since 1900).
In the past week, the White Sox have displayed some offensive improvement, posting a batting line of .245/.300/.394 with nine home runs in 208 at-bats. For September, their overall offensive performance has a triple-slash of .236/.287/.341. Nevertheless, both the hitting and pitching departments have struggled significantly throughout the season.
Expected to start on Friday is Garrett Crochet, a 25-year-old left-handed pitcher. Crochet has a 6-12 record, a 3.78 ERA, and a 1.09 WHIP, along with a remarkable 195 strikeouts against 32 walks in 30 starts this season. However, he has not pitched more than four innings in a game since June and has struggled recently, going 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA over his last three starts, totaling just 9.1 innings.
Earn more by utilizing our sportsbook promo codes.
Padres Pursue Series Victory
The San Diego Padres are coming off an impressive performance, having won five out of their last six games. They completed a three-game sweep against the San Francisco Giants before taking two out of three from the Houston Astros at home. Their recent 4-0 victory over Houston helped them secure that series.
In the last week, the Padres have been formidable at the plate, recording a .289/.339/.505 batting line, including 17 doubles and ten home runs in 218 at-bats. Their September stats reflect a .264/.326/.437 triple-slash, while their bullpen has excelled with a 2.58 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and a .159 batting average against so far this month.
Taking the mound for the Padres is Joe Musgrove, a 31-year-old right-hander. Musgrove has a record of 6-5 with a 4.23 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and an 86/22 K/BB ratio in 17 starts (87.1 innings) this season. In September, he has been particularly effective, going 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA over three starts, with standout performances where he did not allow a run in 12 innings of play.
Best Bets for Chicago White Sox vs. San Diego Padres
Joe Musgrove is anticipated to deliver another strong outing. The White Sox have struggled against right-handed pitchers in the last ten days, posting a wRC+ of 54 and an OPS of .553 across 168 plate appearances. Although they have managed to hit 6-for-14 against Musgrove, the Padres’ pitcher is expected to perform well in this matchup.
The Padres have also fared well against Garrett Crochet, hitting 6-for-11 with a double. While the White Sox’s recent performance against left-handed pitchers has not been impressive, with a wRC+ of 44 in a small sample size of 54 plate appearances, Crochet’s limited endurance makes it unlikely he will go deep into the game. Given the White Sox’s lack of depth in their bullpen, a win for the Padres is highly likely, making them a solid pick to cover the runline.
