Published Jun 6, 6:28pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 6, 6:28pm ET
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Updated Jun 6, 6:28pm ET
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| Philadelphia Phillies | -155 |
| Chicago White Sox | +140 |
White Sox rookie David Sandlin has had one excellent start and one terrible start. Against the Phillies, he tries to show he belongs in MLB against a power-hitting team.
In his first big league start against the Twins, he tossed 6 innings, allowed 1 hit and 1 run (a home run), walked none, and struck out 4 in a 15-2 win. He faced the Twins again five days later and they were ready for him, tagging him for 8 runs and 8 hits in 4 innings. He walked 4 and struck out 4.
In six starts in the minors this season, he had a 2.20 ERA, allowing 12 hits and 1 earned run in 16.1 innings.
The White Sox have been a pleasant surprise this season with an over .500 record, looking markedly improved after a long rebuild.
Munetaka Murakami is near the league leaders in home runs and RBI with an OPS approaching .940. Colson Montgomery has 16 homers and an OPS of around .800. Miguel Vargas' OPS is above .870. Randal Grichuk has been very good since the ChiSox picked him up. His average is above .300 and he has 6 homers.
Against Philly starter Aaron Nola, Vargas is 1 for 3 with a home run. Luisangel Acuña is 1 for 3 with a single. No other White Sox hitter has a hit. Andrew Benintendi is 0 for 10. Grichuk is 0 for 9.
Aaron Nola had a tough, injury-plagued season in 2025. Now, in 2026, he hasn't been much better. In 12 starts, he's thrown 61.2 innings, allowed 68 hits, 38 earned runs, 11 homers, walked 18, and struck out 64. He's got a 5.55 ERA and a 0.3 bWAR.
Still, his last two starts have been good. Both were against the Padres. He allowed 4 earned runs in 11 innings, issuing no walks, and striking out 13.
At the plate, Kyle Schwarber has 23 homers and an OPS above .950. His average is creeping up, now beyond .240. Bryce Harper has 14 homers and an OPS above .870. Brandon Marsh is having a massive season. His batting average is above .330, and he's heading for an All-Star berth.
Trea Truner, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, and J.T. Realmuto are all struggling with averages in the low .200s and below.
Obviously, the Phillies have never faced Sandlin in the majors.
Nola may finally be getting into a groove after a long struggle. There is no way to know what to expect from Sandlin. Still, the Phillies are the type of team for whom an unfamiliar pitcher will go one of two ways: either they'll pound him or he'll do a number on them.
The former is more likely as the Phillies beat on the rookie and give Nola plenty of runs to work with to get the win.
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Pick
Philadelphia Phillies -155
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