MLB Odds: Dodgers Take on White Sox

It’s arguably MLB’s best overall roster against its worst when the Los Angeles Dodgers open a series at the Chicago White Sox on Monday, yet the Pale Hose aren’t huge underdogs on the MLB odds because their young ace, Garrett Crochet, is on the mound. The Dodgers are favored on the MLB odds according to MyBookie Sportsbook.

How to Bet Dodgers at White Sox.

Dodgers -145

The Dodgers remain without leadoff hitter and former AL MVP Mookie Betts as he’s one of several players on the injured list. Betts likely won’t return until after the All-Star break due to his fractured wrist. Miguel Rojas has been playing most every day at shortstop with Betts out. Third baseman Max Muncy hasn’t progressed nearly as well as the team hoped since landing on the injured list on May 17, and he was shifted to the 60-day IL, meaning he will now miss at least a couple more months. Muncy has been taking grounders and running at Dodger Stadium, but he has yet to begin swinging a bat or making throws across the diamond.

There was some potential bad news over the weekend as skipper Dave Roberts told reporters that former Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw reported feeling soreness in his left shoulder following a bullpen session earlier in the day. It’s not unusual for a pitcher to feel some soreness as they’re getting stretched out after such a long layoff, but he’ll be monitored closely over the next few days. Roberts noted that it’s possible Kershaw’s next minor league rehab start — scheduled for Tuesday at Triple-A Oklahoma City — will need to be pushed back.

Superstar Shohei Ohtani has been hitting leadoff with Betts and Ohtani had two massive homers over the weekend and has six 450-foot-plus homers this season, two more than any Dodger in a single season since Statcast began tracking in 2015. Ohtani’s four 450-foot homers in June also have helped him become just the third player since ‘15 to accomplish the feat, joining Trevor Story and Giancarlo Stanton, who both hit five in a month.

“[Ohtani] is leading the league in hitting, leading the league in home runs, he’s right there in runs driven in — it’s pretty special,” said Roberts. “The last few weeks, there just hasn’t been a player better.”

It’s lefty James Paxton on the hill Monday. Paxton (7-1) earned the win over the Rockies last Monday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out eight batters over seven innings. Paxton gave up a second-inning solo homer but otherwise dominated Colorado hitters, holding them to just one additional hit. The veteran completed seven innings for the first time this season and notched his second consecutive quality start. Paxton also tallied a season-high eight punchouts — three more than his previous top mark in 2024 — and walked just one batter. He now owns a 3.65 ERA across 66.2 innings this year, striking out 43 hitters with a 1.31 WHIP.

Within his eight strikeouts, Paxton went for a Whiff% of 29 across his three pitch types. He was particularly effective with the knuckle curve, with which he generated whiffs at a 47 percent clip. Rockies hitters were chasing at a 29 percent rate, including a 43 percent mark against the breaking pitch. For the year, Paxton had posted a chase rate of 26.2 percent & a whiff rate of just 7.4 percent prior to Monday’s start. Velocity was in line with what we’ve seen this year (93.3 MPH average vs. 93.4 average on the year), but he had spin rates up on both the knuckle curve & changeup. Both the fastball & change each featured more break as a result.

There was some uncertainty about Paxton’s role after two recent poor starts given that Bobby Miller (shoulder) is set to return this week, but with back-to-back strong outings and with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (shoulder) set to miss several weeks of action, Paxton’s place in the rotation looks to be secure. He led the majors with 22 walks during April, with a 19.3 percent walk rate that was so far out of line with Paxton’s career norms. But since then, after some mechanical fixes, he has been able to limit the free passes, with just a 6.67-percent walk rate in his last eight starts.

Paxton is 2-0 with a 3.14 ERA in six career appearances vs. the White Sox.

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MyBookie MLB Odds & Lines to Win

Chicago White Sox Betting Lines +122

The White Sox are truly horrific but their lineup got a bit better on Sunday with the activation of DH Eloy Jimenez off the injured list. Jimenez, 27, injured his hamstring while running the bases May 21 and missed 29 games.

Star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. got Sunday off but simply for rest to manage his workload in the wake of his return from the IL with a hip flexor strain. Manager Pedro Grifol said he saw video Friday of injured third baseman Yoan Moncada running and “he looks great,” he said. “Running really good, running the bases really good.”

“He’s doing everything except playing right now. He’s going to start playing hopefully by the middle or end of this week.” Grifol said Moncada probably won’t return to White Sox until after the All-Star break, which is July 15-18.

It’s ace lefty Garrett Crochet on the mound Monday. Crochet (6-6) took the loss against Houston last Wednesday, allowing three runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out eight batters over six innings. Crochet racked up a hearty 19 whiffs and eight punchouts, but it wasn’t enough to keep him out of the loss column in a contest during which he was supported with just one run. The three earned runs were the most he has allowed since April 24. Crochet has tallied six consecutive quality starts and is tied for 10th in the majors with 10 total on the campaign.

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Nice night on the South Side of Chicago. @Dodgers vs. @whitesox pre-game on now, first pitch at 5:10 PT with Rick Monday & me on your radio @AM570LASports & the #Dodgers Audio Network. @iHeartRadio app & @mlbatbat pic.twitter.com/k6FNlaT8e6
— Tim Neverett (@TimNeverett) June 7, 2022