MLB wagering on Thursday includes a matchup in Chicago as the White Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays.
It is the first for a four-game series between the two teams. Earlier this season the teams split four games in baseball wagering at Toronto.
MLB wagering odds may favor the White Sox but it is the Blue Jays who have done well in this series. Toronto has won 16 of the last 20 games against Chicago. Last season the Blue Jays won two of the three games at Chicago. Two of those three games went over the total and that has been the recent trend in this series as three of the four games earlier this season went over the total.
The Blue Jays started the season strongly in MLB wagering and one reason why was their extra-base hits. They led the Major Leagues early in the season in hits for extra-bases. Vernon Wells and Alex Gonzalez were doing much of the damage with Wells a one-man highlight show for the first few weeks of the season.
Chicago is getting some offense this season from a former Toronto player. Alex Rios is playing far better than he did a year ago. "Yeah, he’s very talented. He’s physically very gifted," said White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko. "He’s a big guy with a lot of bat speed. If his head’s in the right place, which it is, and now he’s all settled in here, it’s tough for him not to hit, in my opinion. He has that kind of talent. He didn’t get off on the right foot last year, but he put that behind him, which is great." Rios has been hitting 7th in the Chicago lineup which has taken the pressure off him. "Baseball is a game of redemption," Konerko said. "That’s what you are seeing here, and it’s nice to see."
One player who has not done well so far this baseball wagering season for Chicago is catcher A.J. Pierzynski. He started very slowly this season but hitting coach Greg Walker believes he will turn things around. "All I’ll say is A.J. is a really good offensive player," Walker said. "When he finds a spot where he’s mentally at peace, he’ll start to get a bunch of hits. Right now, he’s fighting the game, and when you fight the game, you don’t get good results.”