Let's shake those numbers and make something out of them. We're looking at the Chicago White Sox visiting the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. This scenic location that would put some postcards to shame, does favor our buddies swinging the bat a little more than those on the mound.
Our starting pitchers today are on an even keel, albeit on a sinking ship. Jared Shuster takes the mound for the White Sox with a 5.06 ERA and the distinction of being slightly less likely to base runners than a traffic light. On the flip side, we've got Jack Kochanowicz performing his rendition of throwing for the Angels, although his 5.18 ERA and strikingly low strikeouts rate might raise some eyebrows, and not in admiration.
Now, onto the men with the bats. For the White Sox, watch out for Nicky Lopez and Andrew Benintendi, whose batting averages aren't as robust as an Italian espresso, but are potent enough to make a significant contribution. On the Angels' end, we've got Taylor Ward and Nolan Schanuel who have been doing a bit of heavy lifting with their solid stat lines too.
Looking at the past encounters between these two, it's been a bit of a seesaw affair with the home turf advantage tilting towards the Angels. Their regular season records speak similar tales, with the Angels having a better win-loss ratio, even though it's something they probably wouldn't put on a mantlepiece.
To put a bow on it, recent form has been a mixed bag for both teams, with perhaps, and this is stretching it, the Angels showing a touch better form.
So, it's decision time, isn't it? After examining all these factors, I have a prediction that might surprise you.
Albert’s Prediction: Chicago White Sox by 1