Chi. White Sox White Sox vs La Angels Angels Picks and Predictions September 26th 2024

Thursday’s matchup between the Angels and White Sox is set to get started at 2:10 PM ET from Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL. The Angels are favored on the money line (-122) and have a record of 63-95, while the White Sox are +104 and have lost two straight, putting them 5th in the AL Central.

Chris Flexen is starting for the White Sox, and he is facing off against Tyler Anderson for the Angels. The over/under line is currently at 7.5 runs, and NBCS will be televising this AL matchup.

Los Angeles vs. Chicago Key Information

Left-hander Tyler Anderson gets the start for the Angels today as he faces the White Sox on the road. He has made 30 starts this season and has a record of 10-14 with a 3.70 ERA. Anderson’s WHIP for the season is 1.28, and he is coming off a rough outing against the Astros in which he took the loss. In that start, he went just 2 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs, four walks, and two homers. Looking back further, Anderson has allowed at least one homer in four straight starts. Per nine innings, he is averaging 3.6 walks compared to 7.2 strikeouts.

Los Angeles comes into the game as one of the worst offensive teams in the league, averaging just 4 runs per game, which is 27th in the MLB. They have been slightly better at home, averaging 4 runs per contest. Overall, they are batting just .229 and are also near the bottom of the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.

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Both Zach Neto and Taylor Ward have been big run producers this season, with Neto leading the team with 77 RBIs and Ward right behind him at 74. Ward is also the team’s leader in home runs, with 25 this season. However, Neto is looking to break out of a recent slump, as he is hitting just .194 over his last nine games. Eric Wagaman has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 11/41 in his last nine games.

Right-hander Chris Flexen gets the start for the White Sox today and will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing against the Padres. In that start, he took the loss and gave up four earned runs in five innings of work. Looking back over his last four outings, Flexen has finished with a no-decision in three straight starts. He has a record of 2-15 this season and an ERA of 5.15 to go along with a WHIP of 1.54. Opposing batters are hitting .279 off Flexen this year. Out of his 29 starts, Flexen has nine quality starts, and his ERA at home is 4.53 compared to 8.1 on the road.

Chicago’s offense has been the worst in the league this season, averaging only 3.1 runs per game. Not only is this the worst mark in the league, but they also have the league’s worst team batting average and on-base percentage. The White Sox are also near the bottom of the league in home runs and slugging percentage.

Andrew Vaughn and Andrew Benintendi are tied for the team lead in home runs, with 19, but Vaughn has driven in more runs so far this season. Both players are batting under .230 for the season. Over his last seven games, Lenyn Sosa has gone 7/21, and Korey Lee has gone 5/13 in his last six games.

Our lean in this Angels vs. White Sox matchup is to take the Angels to win straight-up. And despite our projections pointing to this being the 7th lowest-scoring game of today’s slate, we are leaning towards taking the over. The White Sox’s offense has the highest team innings pitched projection in the league today, and Chris Flexen has the best innings pitched projection among today’s starters.

Dubious Distinction Awaits Either White Sox or Angels

On Thursday afternoon, either the Los Angeles Angels or Chicago White Sox will set a grim record, as the two teams square off in the series finale in Chicago. Both teams are on the brink of securing unfortunate milestones, with the Angels tied for their franchise-worst season and the White Sox just one loss away from making unwanted MLB history.

Angels Tied for Franchise Record in Losses

The Los Angeles Angels (63-95) have dropped two consecutive one-run games to begin this three-game series, tying the franchise record for most losses in a season. The team also lost 95 games in 1968 and 1980, and a defeat on Thursday would break that record, sending them to their worst season in franchise history.

White Sox One Loss Away From Modern-Day Record

Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox (38-120) managed to stave off infamy with a 4-3 win in 10 innings on Wednesday. With the victory, Chicago remained tied with the 1962 New York Mets, who hold the modern-era record for most losses in a single season with 120 defeats since 1901. The White Sox will head to Detroit for a three-game series to end their season after Thursday’s game.

Benintendi Helps Extend Chicago’s Fight

White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi has played a pivotal role in the last two games, delivering a go-ahead single in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 3-2 win, followed by an RBI single in the 10th inning of Wednesday’s 4-3 victory. For his clutch efforts, Benintendi received a celebratory dousing from his teammates.

“It feels good to get the win, but it (stinks) to get it poured on you, especially when it’s starting to cool down a little bit,” Benintendi said. “I was trying to run away a little bit. … It’s exciting. I mean, you want that poured on you even though deep down you’re kinda trying to avoid it.”

The White Sox avoided another loss in an otherwise dismal season, much to the relief of interim manager Grady Sizemore, who praised his team’s ability to keep fighting.

“We’re not going to let anything rattle us,” Sizemore said. “We’re going out there and trying to compete and do the best we can to get a win.”

Tyler Anderson Aims to Snap Five-Game Winless Streak

For the Angels, left-hander Tyler Anderson (10-14, 3.70 ERA) will take the mound, hoping to snap a five-game winless streak. Anderson is 0-3 over that stretch and is coming off a tough outing against the Houston Astros, where he allowed six runs (three earned) on eight hits in just 2 2/3 innings of a 9-7 loss on Friday.

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Since being named to the All-Star team in July, Anderson has seen his season take a downturn, as he acknowledged recently.

“That’s baseball sometimes,” Anderson said Wednesday, per the Los Angeles Daily News. “I feel like in the second half, my command wasn’t as good. Got away from some stuff. Just battling some more stuff than the first half.”

Anderson, 34, has struggled against the White Sox in his career, holding an 0-1 record with an 8.56 ERA in three starts.

Flexen Searching for First Win Since May

White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen (2-15, 5.15 ERA) will start on Thursday, looking to end a 12-game losing streak. Flexen hasn’t won since May 8, when he defeated the Tampa Bay Rays. In his last outing, Flexen allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings in a 6-2 loss to the San Diego Padres on Saturday.

Despite his current struggles, Flexen has had some success against the Angels in the past, posting a 3-2 record with a 3.56 ERA in 10 career appearances (eight starts) against Los Angeles.

One Team Set to Make Unwanted History

As the Angels and White Sox take the field on Thursday, one team will be left with the dubious distinction of setting a new record for futility. Whether it’s Los Angeles securing their worst season in franchise history or Chicago matching the Mets’ infamous 120-loss record, the stakes are high, though for all the wrong reasons.