Ride the Hot Hand: White Sox Team Total

Sometimes you have to ride the hot hand, and right now the White Sox are playing some really good baseball.

Chicago has finally found its offense. The Sox scored 13 runs in two games against Houston and have now scored at least four runs in nine straight games and three or more runs in 15 consecutive games. When a lineup is this consistent, I want to find ways to stay on it.

Parker Messick has been pitching well this season, but there are a few reasons I’m not scared away from this matchup. He was having his innings managed late in the season, and more importantly, the White Sox have already shown they can hit him.

Messick faced Chicago just two weeks ago and allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings. He also faced the Sox in August, when they scored two runs against him, and they got to him for two more runs in June.

In other words, this is a lineup that has seen Messick plenty of times this season and has had success against him.

We also have to consider how well Chicago has hit left-handed pitching. The White Sox finished the season with the sixth-best OPS against lefties, which makes this matchup even more interesting.

Messick is a talented pitcher, but history tells us the White Sox have seen him well enough to make this low team total worth a shot.

My play: White Sox team total OVER 2 1/2 runs.

Sometimes the best bets are simply about recognizing when a team is hot and finding a number that gives you some value. I’m riding the White Sox offense here.

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