White Sox vs. Tigers (September 18): Chicago looks to Cueto to deliver rubber game win in Detroit

The Chicago White Sox are running out of time to either win the AL Central, but with a series ahead against the Cleveland Guardians, they can’t be written off just yet.

But to maximize their potential to make things interesting in the division, they need to take care of business in the rubber game of their series against the Detroit Tigers this afternoon.

The first two games have both gone to extra innings, with Detroit winning in ten innings in Friday’s series opener and Chicago winning in 11 innings last night.

The White Sox are favored to come out on top in today’s matchup, and they need to back that up to at least remain with 4.5 games of the Guardians in the AL Central standings.

Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Chicago White Sox (75-71, 40-34 away, 2nd in the AL Central) vs. Detroit Tigers (55-90, 31-44 home, 5th in the AL Central)
• Venue & Location: Comerica Park (Detroit, Michigan)
• Date: Sunday, September 18, 2022
• Game Time: 12:10 p.m. Eastern Time

Pitching Matchup

• Chicago: RHP Johnny Cueto (2022: 22 appearances – 21 starts, 7-8, 3.09 ERA)
• Detroit: RHP Drew Hutchinson (2022: 25 appearances – 15 starts, 2-8, 4.24 ERA)

White Sox vs. Tigers Odds

Game odds are via Bovada Sportsbook. Odds from other legal sportsbooks may also appear in this article.

Moneyline

• Chicago White Sox -165
• Detroit Tigers +140

Over/Under

• Over 8 (-110)
• Under 8 (-110)

Run Line

• Chicago White Sox -1.5 (+110)
• Detroit Tigers +1.5 (-130)

Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers Prediction and Betting Picks

White Sox vs. Tigers Prediction: Chicago to win

White Sox vs. Tigers Picks: Chicago -1.5 (Best Value: +110 at Bovada Sportsbook)

Hutchinson has not had a lot of success this season, and the Tigers have not had a lot of success in his start. Detroit is 6-9 in his 15 starts, including a 4-5 mark in his nine home starts.

Cueto had a rough start at Oakland last Sunday, allowing seven runs (five earned) and eight hits in 4.2 innings, but he has been better on the road (4-4, 2.30 ERA in 11 starts) than at home (3-4, 3.89 ERA in 11 appearances/10 starts at home).

Chicago has been better overall on the road than at home, much to the detriment of their division title hopes. That has also played out in Cueto-related splits, as they are 6-5 in Cueto’s road starts, compared to 4-6 in his home starts.

Of the nine losses in Hutchinson’s starts, seven have come by 2+ runs, including four of the five home losses.

That brings the run line into focus here if you are backing Chicago, and the numbers in Cueto’s starts also boost the value of the RL. Of the ten wins that the White Sox have had in Cueto’s starts, nine have come by 2+ runs, including all six road wins.

I recommend only a small play on it, so that you don’t end up spending part of a busy NFL Sunday frustrated. But I do like the value here with backing the road team to cover the RL as they wrap up an important road series win.

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