Chicago White Sox at Cincinnati Reds Betting Preview

What to Know - Chicago White Sox

A favorite to win the World Series, the Chicago White Sox have looked nothing like it over their first ten days of spring training. The White Sox have mustered up just one victory in their first ten games that includes three ties. Early records should always be taken with a grain of salt, as teams typically showcase non-starters and non-roster invitees early on in the schedule.

Reynaldo Lopez toes the rubber for Chicago in his second start of spring training. Lopez logged a perfect 2.0 innings of work in his first start, allowing no hits, walks, or runs with one strikeout. Lopez is bidding for the fifth starting position in the White Sox rotation this spring.

There have been some highlights offensively for the White Sox, including noise from highly-touted prospect Andrew Vaughn. The 22-year old first baseman is making a case for himself as Chicago’s designated hitter, swatting .294 (5-for-17) with one home run, four RBI, and three runs scored in eight games. Outfielder Luis Roberts has a nice spring, hitting .375 (6-for-16) with three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases in six games.

Chicago’s offense is averaging only 2.8 runs per game with a team batting average of .237. The pitching staff hasn’t looked much better, sporting a 5.05 team ERA through ten games.

What to Know - Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati is much like the White Sox this spring, putting together a lackluster start as they shuffle numerous players in and out of the lineup. The Reds have played 33 offensive players and 31 pitchers in their first ten games.

Tyler Mahle is expected to make his spring training debut for the Reds Thursday night. The right-hander made just one start and saw action in three games last season, posting an 0-1 record with a 5.63 ERA and 1.75 WHIP. Mahle is slotted to be the Reds’ number three starting pitcher in 2021.

Outfielder Scott Heineman continues to impress in the early portion of spring, hitting .400 (6-of-15) and scoring six runs in eight games. Youngster Nick Senzel has started to heat up at the plate, posting four hits, including a pair of home runs, over his last four games played.

The Reds are scoring 4.0 runs per game while hitting .249 as a team. Cincinnati’s pitching staff is shaky so far, surrendering 6.16 earned runs per game to-date.

Things to Watch

Expectations are high for Mahle this season, so it will be refreshing to see the 26-year old look sharp in his debut. The White Sox lineup will be challenging for Mahle, but if he gets through the order unscathed, it’s a plus for Mahle and the Reds. Expect Lopez to give it his all as he battles for a starting spot for Chicago. Even though these two teams have struggled to score runs, expect some offense against these average bullpens.