As we enter the final quarter of the Major League Baseball regular season, teams are tightening their form as they push for a playoff spot.
Monday night baseball usually means the start of new game series. Here’s our pick of the best three matchups this Monday.
Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago White Sox
Date: Monday, August 23, 2021
Time: 7:07 PM (ET)
Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Canada
Both these teams are having good seasons, making this four-game series one to watch.
The White Sox are leading the AL Central and have the third-best record in the American League so far. The Blue Jays are currently in 8th spot in the AL, but are penalized by playing in the AL East - the division hosting three of the AL’s best teams in the Rays, Yankees, and Red Sox. That puts the Blue Jays 4.5 games behind the Oakland Athletics, who are second in the race for the wild card game.
A series against the White Sox is not something that the Blue Jays want in late August, with just 38 games left in the regular season.
The White Sox have won six of the last 10 games against Toronto and will have Lance Lynn at the mound on Monday. The 34-year-old pitcher is having a great season with a 10-3 score and 2.26 ERA.
Injuries are also likely to hurt the Blue Jays’ chances.
David Phelps, Ross Stripling, George Springer, and Kirby Yates won’t suit up on Monday and Cavan Biggio, AJ Cole, Danny Jansen, Carl Edwards Jr., Julian Merryweather, and Joakim Soria are questionable.
The White Sox will be without Jimmy Cordero, Miguel González and Evan Marshall while Adam Engel, Leury García, Yasmani Grandal, Billy Hamilton and Carlos Rodon are questionable.
Three of Toronto’s and four of White Sox’s last five games have seen at least nine runs.
Betting on Blue Jays vs White Sox
Run line: Blue Jays +1.5 -160/White Sox -1.5 +140
Moneyline: Blue Jays +100/White Sox -120
Over 8 -120
Under 8 +100
Boston Red Sox vs Texas Rangers
Date: Monday, August 23, 2021
Time: 7:10 PM (ET)
Location: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
The Red Sox and the Rangers will meet on Monday after their Sunday matchup was postponed due to the approach of Tropical Storm Henri.
They have a game each in this series so far, with the Red Sox winning 6-0 on Friday but the Rangers getting their revenge on Saturday with a 10-1 victory.
But while both teams have been struggling lately - they’re each 1-4 in the last five - there is differentiating factor between them: motivation.
The Rangers are last in the AL West standings and 7-24 since the All-Star break. This is not a team making the playoffs.
The Red Sox have more to play for. They’re third in AL East, 6.5 games behind the Rays and 4 games behind the Yankees. They’re third in the AL Wild Card game, just half a game behind the Oakland Athletics.
They need to step things up if they’re going to make the postseason, and anything but an easy Red Sox win on Fenway this Monday will be a major upset.
Boston's Nathan Eovaldi (10-8) had been set to face Texas' Kolby Allard (3-10) in the originally scheduled game and both pitchers are expected to start the postponed game.
Betting on Red Sox vs Rangers
Run line: Red Sox -1.5 -145/Rangers +1.5 +125
Moneyline: Red Sox -335/Rangers +260
Total: 10
Over: -105 Under: -115
Pick: Red Sox -1.5/Moneyline Red Sox/Under
Oakland Athletics vs Seattle Mariners
Date: Monday, August 23, 2021
Time: 9:40 PM (ET)
Location: RingCentral Coliseum, Oakland, California
The Athletics and Mariners are scheduled for two matchups in less than 24 hours.
Both teams still have a chance to make the playoffs, but it is almost impossible for both to make it - making this a matchup worth watching.
The Athletics are currently second in the AL West, 4 games ahead of the Mariners who are third in a division that looks like it’s going Houston’s way.
Oakland is second in the AL Wild Card race with a minimal advantage over the Red Sox.
The Athletics have won their last three home games against the Mariners, but Seattle is the form team here: they’ve won 6 out of the last 10.
Paul Blackburn will get a chance to be the starting pitcher for the Athletics on Monday. He has a 0-1 record this season with a 5.06 ERA. Marco Gonzalez, who has a 5-5 record and a 4.10 ERA, with suit up for the Mariners.
Both teams have major injury issues but the Mariners have it worse, with at least ten players out for Monday’s game. Justin Dunn, Sam Haggerty, Kyle Lewis, Nick Margevicius, Andrés Muñoz, Ljay Newsome, James Paxton, Evan White, Justus Sheffield, and Shed Long Jr. will be out.
The Athletics will be without Chris Bassitt, Stephen Piscotty, Trevor Rosenthal, and Mike Fiers.
Betting on Athletics vs Mariners
Run line: Athletics -1.5 +145 /Mariners +1.5 -165
Moneyline: Athletics -135/Mariners +115
Over/Under: 8.5
Pick: Athletics -1.5/Moneyline Athletics/Over
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