Mike Rose Sports Free MLB Pick: Cleveland Indians (135)
Wed May 21 ‘08 8:10p - Click Here for MLB Betting Picks & Odds
Looking to get the Indians out of their rut will by rubber armed righty Paul Byrd. The veteran comes into tonight’s start 2-3 overall with a 3.61 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. He’s coming off one of his best starts of the year against Oakland where he threw 7 1/3rd innings of seven hit ball allowing no runs and striking out seven. He has been roughed up on the road however where he’s currently 0-3 with a bloated 6.53 ERA, and Cleveland’s 0-4 in all four of his road starts. Byrd is 9-2 with a 4.13 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 15 career starts against the White Sox and 4-0 with a 3.67 ERA in five starts at U.S. Cellular Field.

Javier Vazquez will look to put last outings no decision at Anaheim behind him by taking to the bump to face the Tribe for the second time this season. He’s 4-3 with a solid 3.53 ERA allowing 60 hits and 24 runs (23 earned) with a spectacular K/BB ratio of 58/12 in a tad under 59 total innings of work. His 58 K’s are the second most in the American League. He’s won two of his three starts at home against Minnesota and Detroit with the lone loss coming against the Yankees. In his career against the Indians, Vazquez is 5-4 with a 4.08 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 12 total starts. He earned the victory in two of his three starts against them last season, but lost his lone start against them this year to Fausto Carmona.

Chicago is 3-4 SU in Game 2 of a series after a win, while Cleveland is 3-5 in the second clash after losing in Game 1. That said, the Tribe’s 4-0 in Byrd’s last four starts against the White Sox and 7-4 in the last L/11 meetings in Chicago. Almost looks like stealing to lay the chalk with the home team in this spot. You know what that means…