The June 22nd MLB free betting pick looks like one of those lines that seems off when you first glance at it. Texas is at home, but are they really as valuable as the -200 line that oddsmakers have posted? Chicago won the first game of the series 5-4 on Friday and would offer a nice payout at +163 – if they can get the win of course. The Rangers seem to have the pitching edge on paper – but are by no means a sure thing Saturday night.
Chicago Keeps Picking Their Spots
The White Sox are a game under .500 on the year and are 16-20 on the road. That’s pretty good numbers for a team that’s “rebuilding” and Chicago has been very friendly to bettors lately. On Tuesday night the White Sox used a 9th inning HR from Eloy Jimenez to beat the Cubs 3-1 and cash in as +197 underdogs. In last night’s series opening win at Arlington, Chicago scored a 5-4 win behind a 3 RBI night from Zack Collins in his major league debut. The June 22nd MLB free betting pick O/U is up there at 10.5, but Chicago has a lot of talented bats in their lineup.
Texas is confident in the pitcher they send to the bump on Saturday at Globe Life Park but can the White Sox say the same? It’s Odrisamer Despaigne getting just his 3rd start of the year for Chicago and first on the road this season. The right-hander was rocked for 7ER in 4.1 IP in his last start vs. the Yankees but gave up just 3ER in 6.0 IP before that on June 10th vs. Washington. Despaigne has bumped around a bit in his 8-year MLB career and has faced 9 Rangers players (.280 OBA).
Texas a Safe Bet Behind Lynn?
Lance Lynn has shown no signs of slowing down at 32 years of age and in fact may be pitching his best ball in a long time. The right-hander gets the start in the June 22nd MLB free betting pick looking to build on 1 ER allowed to Cleveland (7.0IP) his last time out. It was the 5th start in the last 7 that Lynn has held an opponent to 2ER scored or less. His home/away splits are pretty much equal ERA-wise, but Lynn is 5-0 in 7 starts at Globe Life Park this year. Chicago has hit .241 against the veteran as a team (79 AB).
Can the Rangers offense get to Despaigne on Saturday night? The O/U is 10.5 after all. Texas’ #3 scoring offense has hit a bit of a dry spell as the team has scored more than 4 runs just once in the last 7 games. That would lend to an ‘under’ play, especially as Chicago has plated 3 runs in 3 of the last 4 games. Danny Santana does have a .423 OBP over the last 7 games (with 3HR) and Shin-Soo Choo is 9 for his last 27 with 4 walks. Even so, there’s a 14 MPH wind blowing in from RF at Globe Life in what should be a pitcher’s night.
Top Trends:
- White Sox are 4-1 last 5 road games
- Rangers are 6-1 in Lynn’s last 7 home starts
June 22nd MLB Free Betting Pick
The Rangers are the pick in this one but not at a -200 ML bet, it’s not that solid of a play. Lynn has fared well lately and as long as Chicago’s pitcher Despaigne can reel it in a bit this is looking like a 5-4 or 6-3 game.
MLB Free Pick: White Sox / Rangers *Under* 10.5
