Angels vs White Sox Odds, Picks, and Probable Pitchers (Sep 16)

• The Chicago White Sox are home favorites over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon
• The Angles send Alex Cobb (7-3, 3.82) to the mound to face Reynaldo Lopez (3-2, 2.05)
• The odds and pitching matchups can be found below with a prediction

The Chicago White Sox try to stay on pace for a winning final month of the regular season — and get closer to their first division title in 13 years — against the Los Angeles Angels at 1:10 pm ET, Thursday, on getaway day of a three-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Manager Tony La Russa’s club had a magic number of seven to reach the postseason entering play Wednesday night. It’s only a matter of time before the Pale Hose lock down the American League Central title, coming into Wednesday with a 12.5-game lead over Cleveland. The team had a 6-5 record in September prior to Wednesday’s tilt against LA, but were also only 2-3 against manager Joe Maddon’s Halos in 2021. That said, it’s not surprising the South Siders are favored on Thursday.

Angels vs White Sox Odds

Odds as of September 15 at DraftKings.

Probable Pitchers

On the mound, LA’s Alex Cobb (7-3, 3.82) faces Reynaldo Lopez (3-2, 2.05).

With Angels superstar two-way player Shohei Ohtani slated to start Friday against the A’s, veteran Alex Cobb steps in for Maddon’s crew in this one. Only four of Cobb’s 15 starts this season have been of the quality vintage, but the Halos own a 10-5 record when he starts. One of those quality outings came against the ChiSox on April 3rd, when Cobb went six innings, allowing eight hits, three earned runs and a walk while striking out seven in an eventual 5-3 Angels win.

Cobb vs Lopez Key Stats

Cobb hasn’t started a game in nearly two months (his last outing came July 22nd, when he went five innings, allowing seven hits, an earned run and a walk while striking out four in a 5-4 loss to the Twins at Target Field) after being on the Injured List with a wrist issue. The 33-year-old has been horrible against the White Sox in his career, going 0-3 with a 10;.70 ERA in four lifetime starts against the franchise and owns an even worse 0-2 mark with an 18.90 ERA in two starts at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Cobb is 2-2 with a 5.71 ERA in eight road starts this season. In four day game starts, he has a 2-1 record and 5.68 ERA.

As for Lopez, the 27-year-old has not tossed any quality starts among his six rotation turns and has only completed five full innings three times this season. La Russa’s club is only 8-8 in his appearances and 3-3 in his starts in 2021 — but has gone 3-1 in his last four appearances.

Lopez is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in seven appearances (two starts) at home in 2021. He’s 0-2 with a 2.12 ERA in five appearances (three starts) in day games.

Get Your Wings

The Angels picked up six hits in Tuesday’s series-opening 9-3 loss, including solo shots by Phil Gosselin and Jared Walsh. Walsh comes into Thursday’s tilt as the team’s hottest hitter in September — going 12-for-33 (.364) with a pair of big flies and five runs driven in prior to Wednesday’s action.

The 27th HR of the year for Jared Walsh! pic.twitter.com/DEcdBBin5D

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) September 15, 2021

Unfortunately for the Halos, Jo Adell was placed on the IL prior to Wednesday’s game in Chicago. He ran into the fence Saturdasy — but is still tied for the team lead for the month with three dingers and eight RBI while hitting .333. With him out of the picture, the focus shifts to AL MVP candidate Ohtani. The Japanese import has gone deep twice and driven in four runs this month, but has slumped to the tune of going 6-for-33 (.182) in ten games prior to Wednesday in September.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

As for probable White Sox batters that could smash against Cobb on Thursday, Luis Robert and Leury Garcia have both been hot so far this month ahead of Wednesday’s action (hitting .396 and .375, respectively) with each hitting a pair of long balls and driving in seven runs.

The other player to watch — who Cobb has never faced — is Gavin Sheets. The 25-year-old rookie has slugged three homers so far this month through Tuesday, to go along with 10 RBI and a .276 batting average (8-for-29). He absolutely crushed a ball in Tuesday’s series opener.

I think I’m the biggest Gavin Sheets fan outside of Chicago. I smell an October moment for him. https://t.co/hHzPvxybQ9

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) September 15, 2021

Angels vs White Sox Pick

With Cobb making his first start in seven weeks and Ohtani slumping, it’s hard to fade the home team in this spot..

I love the value Maddon’s crew presents. But without Adell and with several White Sox batter mashing of late, the Pale Hose are the play here.

The Pick: White Sox moneyline (-180)