Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox Preview: Lynn’s Robust Rebound Results Favor Hosts in Rubber Game

What does this afternoon’s series finale between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox have in store after back-to-back one-run games? MLB betting odds for this matchup favor the home team to take the win and take the series.

After the White Sox held on for a 4-3 win in Friday’s opener, the Red Sox evened the series last night with a 9-8, 10-inning win. The Red Sox led 7-2 at one point, only to fall behind 8-7. But after tying the game in the eighth, they won it in extras with Travis Shaw’s run-scoring single in the top of the 10th.

In today’s matchup, Lance Lynn takes the hill for the White Sox opposite Nick Pivetta. Lynn is coming off of a rough outing and is running out of starts to pad his AL Cy Young resume, but based on his history, a strong outing should be on the cards today for the veteran righty.

Boston Red Sox (81-63) vs Chicago White Sox (81-61), TBS, 2:10 p.m. ET

Probable Pitchers

• Boston Red Sox: Nick Pivetta (9-7, 4.67 ERA)
• Chicago White Sox: Lance Lynn (10-4, 2.59 ERA)

Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox MLB Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Boston Red Sox +136
• Chicago White Sox -162

Total

• OVER 9.5 (+100)
• UNDER 9.5 (-122)

Run Line

• Boston Red Sox +1.5 (-140)
• Chicago White Sox -1.5 (+116)

Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Sunday, September 12, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. ET. Want to see betting odds from several top online sportsbooks for the day’s other MLB matchups? Check out our MLB odds.

Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox MLB Betting Consensus

Moneyline

• 40% Boston Red Sox
• 60% Chicago White Sox

Total (at O/U 9)

• 60% OVER
• 40% UNDER

Run Line (at +/-1.5)

• 100% Boston Red Sox
• 0% Chicago White Sox

Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox Matchup: Betting Picks, Odds, Stats and More

Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox MLB Betting Outlook

Pivetta has a better record at home (4-2) than he does on the road (5-5), but other numbers line up far more favorably on the road. At home, his ERA is 5.60, but it drops to 3.82 on the road. He has given up 15 homers at home but only six on the road, and his OBA is also significantly better on the road (.208) than at home (.259).

But he has won only one of his last seven starts and he does not come into today’s matchup in particularly pleasant form. In each of his last three starts, he has given up four runs and is 0-2 with a 10.59 ERA in that stretch.

That would be unfavorable for the Red Sox in this situation no matter what, but it is even more unfavorable with Lynn going for the White Sox in this spot.

Last time out, Lynn allowed seven runs in five innings in a 7-0 loss to the Cubs on August 28. Don’t bank on a repeat performance or anything close to it, however. In his career, Lynn has shown quite the knack for bouncing back after his poorest outings.

Lynn remains one of the leading AL Cy Young candidates for good reason, even though he has only one win in eight starts after the All-Star break. In 24 starts, he has given up three or more earned runs only six times, and he has done it in consecutive starts only once. Since giving up three or more earned runs in at least two or more consecutive starts five times in 29 starts in 2018, he has done so only six times over the last three seasons (70 starts).

Is there only one way to play this matchup? The information above indicates as much.

Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox Best Bets

Chicago White Sox ML

Since the All-Star break, wins have been hard to come by for Lynn. But his bounce-back ability makes him and the White Sox a great bet today, even at these odds. Lynn’s second-half results have hurt his AL Cy Young candidacy, but the race is still open. A gem today would certainly help his cause, and this is a great spot for that to occur.