MLB picks: White Sox vs. Twins, Brewers vs. Cubs

Some solid wagering opportunities await MLB bettors this Monday night. We crunched the numbers and came up with our top two plays for the evening!

Leading off is our look at an AL Central showdown between the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins. Then we’ll preview an NL Central clash between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs.

Chicago White Sox (66-46) at Minnesota Twins (48-64), 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN

The streaking White Sox should make light work of the terrible Twins at Target Field on Monday night.

Lucas Giolito will toe the rubber for Chicago, and he’s bewildered Minnesota in 2021, winning both of his starts while recording a 2.57 ERA and 0.857 WHIP (14 innings). Jorge Polanco, Miguel Sano, and Andrelton Simmons are all batting below .200 lifetime against Giolito in 57 combined at-bats.

Giolito’s latest start should be taken with a grain of salt, and he surrendered six runs to the Kansas City Royals after facing them just days earlier (allowing only one run through six frames in that instance). He had a 2.01 ERA over 22 1/3 innings of work prior to his initial effort of August.

Beau Burrows counters for the Twins, and his first four outings of the season have been far from inspiring, as he’s coughed up 11 earned runs over nine innings. Eloy Jimenez – who had six hits (including two home runs) in the weekend series with the Cubs – should continue his hot streak here.

Chicago seems poised to win the bullpen battle too; their relief corps is 10th by ERA over the past two weeks at 3.10, while Minnesota’s is 24th at 5.36 in the same span.

MLB pick: White Sox -1.5 runs (-125)

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Milwaukee Brewers (66-46) at Chicago Cubs (52-61), 8:05 p.m. ET

The Brewers and Cubs should struggle to score early at Wrigley Field on Monday night.

Freddy Peralta gets the nod for Milwaukee, and the Cubs have seen more than enough of him already in 2021. Peralta takes on a depleted Chicago lineup after recording a 2.14 ERA through four starts against the Cubs at full-strength earlier this season. Ian Happ has faced Peralta the most of any current Cub, and is 1-for-11 against him all-time.

Alec Mills responds for Chicago against a Brewers offense that’s plated a modest 3.75 runs per game over its last eight contests. He’s recorded two straight quality starts, his last one coming at inhospitable Coors Field.

Totals bettors would be wise to factor out the bullpens here; Milwaukee’s relievers are 22nd by ERA over the last two weeks (4.74), while Chicago’s are 25th (5.81).

MLB pick: Under 4.5 runs (first five innings)