Chicago White Sox (23-23) at Toronto (27-20)
When: Tuesday, May 31st 2022
Where: Rogers Centre,
Toronto, Ontario
Time: 7:07 ET | TV: MLB.tv
Opening Odds: Toronto -150/7.5
Two teams with high expectations coming into 2022 have started to play better of late and will meet Tuesday night in Toronto. The Blue Jays will host the injury-plagued Chicago White Sox for the first of three games at Rogers Centre. Toronto returns home after a very successful road trip in which they lost the first game in St. Louis before running off five in a row including a four-game sweep of the previously hot Los Angeles Angels. The offense, which has been a disappointment early in the season, erupted for six runs or more in four of those victories and the trip ended with a wild 11-10 victory on Sunday. The Blue Jays are now just 5.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East after winning seven of their last 10 games.
The White Sox still are playing without Eloy Jimenez (right hamstring tendon tear), Luis Robert (COVID-19 protocol) and Yoan Moncada (quadriceps), which is a big reason for the slow start. Now All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson has landed on the IL. Anderson suffered a strained right groin in the fifth inning on Sunday after making a throw from the outfield grass. The White Sox went on to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 in extra innings and split the two-game interleague series with their cross-town rivals. Anderson is the team leader and is currently batting .356 with five home runs, 19 RBIs and eight stolen bases. Chicago was 4-3 last season against the Blue Jays and the Under was 5-1-1.
Pitchers: White Sox – Lucas Giolito (3-1, 2.63) | Blue Jays – Kevin Gausman (4-3, 2.25)
Lucas Giolito has allowed three runs or less in all seven of his starts in 2022 and has very good career numbers against Toronto. In four starts versus the Jays, he has gone 2-0 with a 3.22 ERA and has allowed exactly one run in each of last three matchups. Giolito limited Boston to one run over six innings in his last start on Wednesday.
Kevin Gausman also has good numbers against tonight’s opponent but hasn’t faced them in almost four years. The former Baltimore Oriole is 0-0 with a 1.26 ERA lifetime against the White Sox in four games (two starts). Gausman shutout the St. Louis Cardinals over six innings last Tuesday in Toronto’s 8-1 win.
The White Sox not having Anderson in the lineup is a big deal, especially with all the other starters out. Gausman should be able to easily navigate this lineup, while the Jays offense should continue their surge. Toronto is one of the best home teams so far this season (14-8).
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for today.
Pick: Blue Jays -150
