Kikuchi And Crochet Will Keep Bats At Bay

White Sox vs. Blue Jays, 7:07 ET

I feel like I need to reiterate this probably like once a month: Sports betting is hard. Getting rich from sports betting is even harder. This isn't something for someone who is weakminded or is looking to get rich quick. Sure, you can get rich quick if you hit some sort of wild parlay, but the chances are slim. The day-to-day grind is difficult to manage. Losing makes you question your methods, winning makes you feel invincible. The way I look at sports betting is supplemental income, I manage my bankroll, and I don't bet money I can't afford to lose. Hopefully I won't need to worry about losing tonight as I have a play I like quite a bit in the game between the White Sox and Blue Jays. 

The White Sox have had a pretty nice month. They aren't lighting the league on fire or anything, but after an absolutely disastrous start to the season, the White Sox have found a way to at least become a competitive club. They don't have anything special on the team, and they have only four road wins on the season. The team will likely trade anyone and everyone that other teams have an interest in if they offer a package for the future. Keep in mind, the White Sox biggest free agent contract in the history of their franchise was given to Andrew Benintendi. That contract is worth 75 million dollars. This team will be rebuilt through trades and the farm system. They just don't spend money despite being in a major market. Speaking of developing and building through trades, tonight they have youngster Garrett Crochet taking the ball. He has been outstanding in May with 17 innings over three starts and just one solo homer allowed. He has also allowed just 11 hits and three walks this month. I do wonder if he has made some sort of correction because in April, he allowed 22 earned runs and seven homers in 28.2 innings. Blue Jays hitters haven't faced him much as he has only see three hitters a total of five at-bats. 

Apr 29, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (45) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jays are in a bit of a different class than the White Sox. Toronto has built their team through the farm system, but they also are willing to spend money to try and make the team better. They signed George Springer and Kevin Gausman through free agency, but they have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, among others, that they developed. Still the team seems like they are underperforming to this point in the season. The squad is sitting below .500 overall, on the road, and at home. I thought it was a tough start to the season that put them in this position when they opened with a bunch of road games. That doesn't seem to be the case though. Maybe they really are just an average club. Tonight they have one of their better pitchers on the mound as Yusei Kikuchi takes the hill. Kikuchi has a 2.60 ERA overall and is 32nd in WHIP with a 1.10 clip. He has been very good in the month of May as well with four earned runs over 18.1 innings. In fact, he has allowed more than three earned runs just once this season and it came against the Dodgers. The bigger concern I have is that the Blue Jays have lost the past four games that Kikuchi started. Makes me want to stay away from full game plays. White Sox hitters are batting almost .300 against Kikuchi in 57 at-bats against him. 

The way that both teams are hitting right now makes me think this should be an under spot. I've been impressed with what I've seen from Crochet, and think he can probably keep it going here against the Blue Jays. Kikuchi has a bad history against the Sox, but I think he can overcome some of that in this one. I think the under through five innings is the way to look here. 

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