White Sox vs. Orioles (August 23): Can Cease make it a baker’s dozen in Baltimore?

A week ago, it looked like the Chicago White Sox were poised to finally make a run to move atop the AL Central. But after losing four of their last five games, the South Siders need a winning week to get back on track, starting with tonight’s opener of their series in Baltimore.

Since none of the AL Central contenders seem to be overly interested in prospering, the White Sox are still just three games out of first.

But with the regular season winding down, there is less and less time to do what they need to in order to either win the division or lock down an AL wild-card spot.

To start their week, they face another team that is in the thick of the wild-card race. Chicago is four games out of a wild-card spot, while Baltimore enters this series 2.5 games out.

But where the White Sox are trending down a bit, the Orioles are trending up after taking two of three from the Boston Red Sox over the weekend.

Will Dylan Cease and the Sox pick up a big win tonight in Baltimore? Or will the Orioles take care of business at home against the AL Cy Young Award hopeful?

Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Chicago White Sox (62-60, 32-29 away, 3rd in the AL Central) vs. Baltimore Orioles (63-58, 35-23 home, 4th in the AL East)
• Venue & Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore, Maryland)
• Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2022
• Game Time: 7:05 p.m. Eastern Time

White Sox vs. Orioles Pitching Matchup

• Chicago White Sox: Dylan Cease (2022: 24 starts, 12-5, 2.09 ERA)
• Baltimore Orioles: Austin Voth (2022: 33 appearances – 10 starts, 3-1, 4.86 ERA – 3-1, 2.81 ERA in 14 appearances/10 starts with the Orioles)

White Sox vs. Orioles Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. This article may also include odds from other reputable online sportsbooks that we have reviewed.

Moneyline

• Chicago White Sox -142
• Baltimore Orioles +120

Over/Under

• Over 7.5 (-102)
• Under 7.5 (-120)

Run Line

• Chicago White Sox -1.5 (+118)
• Baltimore Orioles +1.5 (-142)

Will Voth Match Cease at Camden Yards?

Cease didn’t quite beef up his AL Cy Young resume in last week’s clash of contenders against Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros, as he allowed three runs, six hits, and three walks and struck out only four in five innings. It marked the end of a historic run for the 26-year-old righty.

Dylan Cease's streak of consecutive starts allowing 0 or 1 ER ends at 14.

This hasn't been done since at least 1913 ? pic.twitter.com/joFIMHBfFT

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 17, 2022

But he is still very much in the Cy Young race, though he is still in catch-up mode with Verlander a -190 favorite (at BetOnline) and Cease at +240.

With Verlander on the mound tonight at home against the Minnesota Twins, tonight is an opportunity for Cease to perhaps close the gap if he can spin a gem against the Orioles and the Twins can manage to have some success against Verlander.

Cease has allowed more than one earned run only once on the road this season and is 7-2 with a 1.34 ERA in 11 road starts.

Road Splits for Dylan Cease in 2022 (11 Starts)

• 7-2, 1.34 ERA, 60.1 IP, 44 H, 12 R (9 ER), 3 HR, 31 BB, 75 K, .199 OBA, 1.24 WHIP

He has allowed multiple walks in all but one road start, but since allowing seven hits against the Tigers in a win on June 14, he has allowed just 15 hits in five road starts. Also, he has allowed more than five hits only twice in his last 11 starts.

A gem at home against the Orioles on June 26 helped his Cy Young campaign get some legs. In seven innings, he allowed one run, four hits, and just one walk and tallied a career-high 13 strikeouts.

But he isn’t the only pitcher worth watching tonight at Oriole Park.

Voth had a 10.13 ERA in 19 appearances with the Washington Nationals this season before being designated for assignment on May 31. The Orioles picked him up off of waivers on June 7, and the opportunity has proven to be just what the 30-year-old righty needed.

Voth is coming off of his best start with Baltimore, as he allowed two hits and one walk and struck out three in six shutout innings at Toronto last Wednesday. The Orioles lost that game, but they are 5-0 in his home starts.

Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Prediction and Picks

White Sox vs. Orioles Prediction: White Sox to win

White Sox vs. Orioles Picks: White Sox ML (Best Value: -139 at BetUS) & Dylan Cease over 6.5 strikeouts (Best Value: -130 at BetMGM)

The Orioles certainly have some appeal as a home underdog tonight, but the White Sox’s records in Cease’s starts this season are pretty formidable.

The White Sox are 9-2 in Cease’s 11 road starts and 18-6 in his 24 overall starts this season. In everyone else’s starts, they are 23-27 on the road and 44-54 overall.

It’s not like I needed more reasons to back the visitors, given how frequently I have done so this season. But that is pretty darn stout, especially when you consider their lack of consistency and thirst for prosperity otherwise.

Cease has had seven or more strikeouts just two times in his last five starts, but he hit that number seven times on the road and 17 times overall this season.

Another double-digit strikeout performance against the Orioles isn’t necessarily needed tonight, but it would certainly help his Cy Young hopes. And it would be an added bonus on top of a winning strikeout prop and a win for the South Siders.

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