The White Sox (51-45) came out of the All-Star break swinging, racking up 12 runs en route to a series-opening victory. On the other side, it’s yet another disappointing loss for the Blue Jays (45-52). With that being said, the defending American League champions are still within reach of the postseason. Turning things around on Saturday against a contending Chicago club would go a long way for Toronto’s chances. Which of these two playoff hopefuls has the edge this afternoon?

The White Sox are favorites (-111) over the Blue Jays, with the over/under set at nine runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Saturday’s showdown between Chicago and Toronto on DraftKings Sportsbook.

White Sox vs. Blue Jays pick, best bet today

White Sox vs. Blue Jays over 9.5 runs (+100): Bieber and Martin have both been fairly ineffective over the past few weeks. The White Sox are dangerous on offense, while Toronto is due for a better showing at home. Expect both lineups to do damage on Saturday.

White Sox vs. Blue Jays prediction, preview

The White Sox do most of their damage at the plate, but consistent pitching has been a bit of a challenge. That makes Davis Martin arguably the most important player on the roster. Chicago’s ace has notched a 3.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 92 strikeouts (8.3 K/9). However, he’s fallen off a bit following a fantastic first few months. The right-hander has a middling 6.34 ERA and 1.90 WHIP over his previous seven outings. It’s not too shocking; Martin has a middling 4.36 xERA, .269 xBA and 44.8% hard-hit rate.

With that being said, it’s not as if the Blue Jays are an offensive juggernaut. They’re 27th in runs scored (396), 22nd in home runs (101) and 26th in OPS (.691). Big bats such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (98 wRC+) and George Springer (93 wRC+) haven’t looked like themselves at the plate. Toronto has scored a total of 59 runs during its previous 15 contests; that’s the sixth-worst mark in baseball during that time. In addition, the Jays are tied for the ninth-lowest OPS against right-handed pitching (.707).

Starting pitching has been Toronto’s biggest strength this season. However, Shane Bieber hasn’t been great since being activated off of the injured list in June. Over 17.2 innings pitched (four starts), he’s on the hook for a 7.64 ERA, 2.04 WHIP and 13 strikeouts (6.6 K/9). It’s a small sample size, but far from what fans expected from the former Cy Young winner. Most troubling for the veteran is a sky-high 3.6 HR/9 ratio. Giving up the long ball is something Bieber has excelled at throughout his nine-year MLB career. If that ability to keep the ball in the park fades, he becomes a far less effective hurler.

That’s especially true when facing a lineup that loves the long ball. In that regard, the White Sox fit the bill. They’ve already slugged 130 home runs, fourth-most in baseball this season. In addition, the team ranks ninth in runs scored (466) and ninth in OPS (.734). Keep in mind, All-Star slugger Munetaka Murakami just made his return from the injured list; there’s no reason to think the South Siders will start slumping at the plate. Four different players in this lineup have clubbed at least ten home runs.

Best Bet: White Sox vs. Blue Jays over 9.5 runs (+100)

On first glance, this total feels a bit high. Martin and Bieber have established themselves as, at worst, above-average arms. However, neither pitcher has been setting the world on fire over the past few weeks. Martin’s recent decline, combined with struggles on the road (4.72 ERA), are worrying. Ditto for Bieber, who has had issues giving up home runs. Expect an afternoon slugfest at Rogers Centre.

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