MLB Play of the Day for Friday, June 11: Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox

Can the White Sox keep dominating left handed pitching?

Reed Wallach - Jun 11, 2021, 9:28am EDT

Chicago White Sox (-165, 8.5) vs. Detroit Tigers - 7:10 PM EST

It’s a tried and true formula that the White Sox have dominated left handed pitching this season. The South Siders are 14-4 against southpaws in 2021. A bettor would be up 7.9 units if they bet that trend each time this season.

Well, good for Chicago is that they will be facing young left handed pitcher Tarik Skubal. Not only has Skubal struggled in his second season in the bigs, sporting a 4.33 ERA with a 5.32 FIP, the White Sox have roughed him up over a small sample size. The White Sox have hit .381 against him in 21 at bats.

To be fair, Skubal has enjoyed the friendly confines of Comerica Park, with a 3.27 ERA over five starts. On top of that, new manager A.J. Hinch has gone 11-2 as an underdog between +150 and +200 this season.

While the White Sox have raked against southpaws, the Tigers lineup have given White Sox's probable pitcher Lucas Giolito trouble this season. The Tigers have won both games he started and got four runs off of the Chicago ace each time, including last week.

On the year, Giolito has a 3.88 ERA with a double digit strikeouts per nine innings mark. He is allowing a bit more contact than the past few years, most since 2018, but is still an elite pitcher with his filthy changeup.

While the White Sox have opened up a considerable lead in the AL Central, 4.5 games on the Indians, the Tigers have given Chicago’s starter fits.

How should you play this Friday night meeting? Check out our best bets here!