Heres Sean Murphy's GOW 7*
REASON FOR PICK: The White Sox look like a team that's simply going through the motions after being virtually eliminated from playoff contention last week.
They've now dropped eight games in a row, and find themselves in a tough spot on Wednesday. They'll be looking ahead to a day off in the California sunshine on Thursday before opening a weekend series in Anaheim on Friday night.
I mentioned this in my analysis of Monday's play on the A's, and it's worth bringing up again today; entering this series, the White Sox were one of only three teams to own a winning record overall, but a losing record against left-handed starting pitching. That angle is back in play as they face a lefty in Brett Anderson on Wednesday. More on him shortly.
The Oakland A's certainly haven't quit. They've now won three games in a row and 11 of their last 17 overall. They've been fantastic here at home, going 22-10 in their last 32 games at the Coliseum.
The White Sox gave Paul Konerko the night off on Tuesday. He'll be back in the lineup this afternoon, but keep in mind, he hasn't recorded a hit since last Thursday against Minnesota. Meanwhile, Manny Ramirez has essentially been a bust since joining the team. You can see why this is a club that is really struggling to scratch together much offense lately.
Edwin Jackson will get the call for the White Sox on Wednesday. He's been simply awful here in September, going 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA and .333 opponents batting average. That shouldn't come as a big surprise, as he's a career 10-13 pitcher with a 6.17 ERA and .308 opponents average in the month of September.
Jackson did take a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his last start against the Tigers, but imploded from there in an eventual 9-2 loss. He hasn't had good command of his pitches in his last three starts, leaving the ball up with regularity. As a result, he's recorded a 23:42 ground ball to fly ball ratio over that stretch.
The current A's roster is hitting .339 and slugging .429 against Jackson, but that's in only 56 at-bats. We can take away Coco Crisp's 9-for-22 off of him as he's out for the season, that leaves their current roster hitting .294 against him. He certainly hasn't fooled this lineup, recording a weak 7:6 strikeout to walk ratio along the way.
The A's will counter with Brett Anderson. He's been brilliant here in September, going 3-1 with a 1.65 ERA and .226 opponents average in four starts, spanning 27 1/3 innings of work. In Anderson's first two big league seasons, he's gone 4-0 with a 2.28 ERA and .247 opponents average in September.
Unlike Jackson, Anderson has shown excellent command lately, and really for the better part of the season (when he's been healthy). He owns a 162:133 ground ball to fly ball ratio, which should aid him against a White Sox lineup that lives and dies by the long ball at times. Note that Anderson has allowed only six home runs in 92 1/3 innings pitched this season, although he has given one up in three consecutive starts.
The current White Sox roster is hitting .339 and slugging .435 against Anderson, but they have just four extra-base hits off of him 62 at-bats. Ramon Castro is the only Chicago hitter to have taken Anderson deep. The left-hander has recorded a 9:4 strikeout to walk ratio against current Sox hitters.
The White Sox will get some support from bettors on Wednesday, as is often the case when a team is trying to avoid a series sweep. Keep in mind, Chicago has already been swept in a three-game series three times this month. Take Oakland (7*).