Chicago White Sox (125) - Tue September 16th ‘08 7:05p
The Chicago White Sox will take on the Yankees this evening in the second game of a four game set. The White Sox lost last night 4-2, but they still hold a 1.5 game lead over the Twins in the AL Central. Tonight they will send Gavin Floyd to the hill in an attempt to widen that narrow margin between themselves and Minnesota.

Floyd is having a very solid year for the White Sox, sporting a 3.77 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 15-7 record. In Floyd’s last four away starts, the White Sox are 4-1 and he has allowed just eight earned runs in 34 innings pitched (average of 1.6 runs per game). In Floyd’s last five starts at any location, Chicago is 4-1 and he has allowed 15 earned runs in 35 innings pitched (average of 3 runs per game).

Andy Pettitte is not having a typical Andy Pettitte year; he has a 4.52 ERA on the season and a 1.40 WHIP. More perplexing is his 5.32 home ERA and the .298 average that opponents are posting against him. This would explain why the Yankees are 1-4 in Pettitte’s last five home starts. Pettitte has allowed 25 earned runs in those starts (31.3 innings pitched) and the opposition is averaging six runs per game versus New York in that stretch.

Floyd has not been particularly stellar against the Yankees in the past, but I look for him to keep them in the game tonight and for Chicago to do enough to get a much needed victory (at great value no less).

Key Stat: Floyd has been a stopper for Chicago all year and he has come up big when they’ve needed him to time and again. As evidence of such, the White Sox are 11-1 after a loss this season when Floyd is on the mound for them.

Free Pick: Take the White Sox +125

Matt Foust is an award winning baseball handicappers featured on Touthouse.com - Click Here to Buy His Expert Baseball Picks