Both of these teams sit dead-last in their division. Both of these teams have been eliminated from the playoffs. Still, while it’s been a dark and disastrous season for the Orioles, I think vibes are currently pretty good in Chicago, as the White Sox sit comfortably in the “we love our young prospects” phase of a rebuild.
Can Baltimore finish off the sweep this afternoon? Let’s preview this matinee matchup with the help of some of those odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Orioles vs. White Sox prediction, preview
If there is something for Orioles’ fans to get excited about heading into the winter, it’s the fact that both Tyler Wells and Tyler Bradish have looked good after lengthy stints on the IL. In the two starts Wells has been able to make so far this season, the right-hander has pitched to a 2.31 ERA and a 2.31 xERA over 11.2 innings of work. That includes a spectacular outing last Wednesday against the Pirates, where Wells pitched into the seventh, allowing just one earned run and one hit with six strikeouts. Remember, Wells was very effective in 2023, posting a 3.64 ERA despite some serious home run issues. There’s an MLB caliber starting pitcher in this 31-year-old former 15th-round pick.
Now, the White Sox haven’t been as anemic as Pittsburgh when it comes to run scoring potential in September, but the club has been below-average. In fact, over the past 16 days, Chicago owns the AL’s lowest expected wOBA (.300), along with the fifth-highest strikeout rate in the league as a whole (26.0%). Seems like a pretty nice matchup for Wells to continue his string of success.
On the other side of the pitching probables, we find veteran left-hander Martin Perez. Somehow, the 34-year-old managed to have eight quality appearances for the White Sox to begin 2025, yet things are finally starting to normalize, as Perez has allowed nine earned runs in his past two starts combined. An unstable .213 opponent BABIP is primarily to thank for Perez’s 3.27 ERA. It’s also the reason he’s disliked by ERA estimators, as Perez’s 5.22 xERA is nearly two full runs higher. Yikes.
Orioles vs. White Sox pick, best bet
Best Bet: Orioles ML (-126)
Baltimore just has more talent on its roster — even after trading away 10 players at the deadline. The Orioles are 10-4 so far in September.
