Red Sox vs White Sox Odds, Lines, and Picks (Sep. 12)

• The Chicago White Sox are home favorites over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon
• The Pale Hose send Lance Lynn (10-4, 2.59) to the mound to face Nick Pivetta (9-7, 4.67)
• The odds and pitching matchups can be found below with a prediction

The Boston Red Sox will try to stay in the mix for one of the two American League Wild Card spots against the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox at 2:10 pm ET Sunday on getaway day of a three-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The BoSox carried a 5-4 record for the month of September into Saturday’s tilt on the South Side, while the ChiSox were 4-4 so far in the final month of the regular season. But both teams have postseason aspirations though, with Tony La Russa’s club all but assured of a playoff berth. Chicago’s magic number to clinch its first division title since 2008 was down to 12 following Friday night’s 4-3 win. Meantime, manager Alex Cora’s club held a slim one-game lead over the Yankes for the top Wild Card spot entering Saturday’s game — with the Blue Jays, Mariners and A’s all within 1.5 games of a postseason berth.

With Chicago’s reliable veteran on the bump Sunday, it’s no surprise Lance Lynn and the Pale Hose are home favorites.

Red Sox vs White Sox Odds

Odds as of September 11h at DraftKings.

Probable Pitchers

On the mound, Boston’s Nick Pivetta (9-7, 4.67) faces Lance Lynn (10-4, 2.59).

Since acquiring Pivetta from the Phillies in late August last year, the 28-year-old Canadian has been solid for the Red Sox. While only eight of his 26 starts in 2021 have been quality ones, Boston has gone 15-11 in his starts. He got beat up a bit in his lone career start against Chicago on April 17th this year, managing only 3.2 innings pitched, while allowing four hits, two earned runs and four walks — but he struck out three White Sox batters and the Red Sox won 7-4 at Fenway.

Pivetta vs Lynn Key Stats

This is Pivetta’s first appearance in September after a rough August that saw him go 1-3 and sport an ugly 5.31 ERA. The Red Sox were only 1-5 in his six dog day starts.

The big right-hander is 5-6 with a 3.82 ERA in 13 road starts this season. In seven day game starts, he has a 3-2 record and 4.30 ERA.

Nick Pivetta throws all gas no break 🔥
pic.twitter.com/EYNcbft5de

— Ryan Garcia (@RyanGarciaESM) August 2, 2021

Lynn — somewhat surprisingly — hasn’t been much better than Pivetta of late. The 34-year-old went 0-1 with 4.67 ERA in August and returns to action after a trip to the Injured List due to a knee injury. The South Siders have fared a bit better in his starts of late, though, going 3-2 over the month. But Lynn is coming off his worst start of the season entering Sunday’s tilt. The two-time All-Star got battered August 28th against the Cubs to the tune of five innings, seven hits, seven earned runs and two walks (while striking out seven) in a — you guessed it — 7-0 defeat to the White Sox crosstown rivals.

Lynn figures to bounce back against in his first career start against Boston, though. He’s 6-3 with a 2.75 ERA in 15 starts at home in 2021. He’s also 4-1 with a minuscule 1.53 ERA in eight day game starts.

👀👀👀

AL Cy Young odds:
Gerrit Cole +105
Robbie Ray +135
Lance Lynn +270 pic.twitter.com/qcTCWYsg0G

— Joe Ostrowski (@JoeOstrowski) September 8, 2021

Offensive Onslaught

Several Red Sox hitters came into this series swinging a hot bat. Two players — Hunter Renfroe and Alex Verdugo — were hitting over .400 in the last five games prior to Friday, while two more — Bobby Dalbec and JD Martinez — had eclipsed .300. The quartet has combined for five home runs and 17 runs driven in.

Bobby Dalbec leads the American League in OPS (1.125) since the trade deadline, second to only Bryce Harper (1.182) for the major league lead.

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) September 10, 2021

As for probable Boston hitters Sunday, Schwarber (2), Devers (1) and Shaw (1) have each taken Lynn deep. But no Red Sox hitter has a particularly intimidating career batting average against standout starter.

Boston Red Sox vs Lance Lynn

Only three probably White Sox batters have a history against Pivetta — all from that game in April. Yoan Moncada, Luis Robert and Jose Abreu went a combined 4-for-11 (.364) with Abreu getting a double against him.

Red Sox vs White Sox Pick

With Lynn back  — and his dominant record in day games this season — I expect the home team to take care of business and hand Boston a loss.

Plenty of Red Sox hitters are swinging the bat well. But I simply don’t trust Pivetta to keep this close.

The Pick: White Sox (-155)