MLB Odds: ChiSox getting healthy versus Seattle

Paul Konerko homered in the first two games of the series.

The Chicago White Sox have found the key to winning the AL Central division. All they have to do is keep playing the Seattle Mariners.

The White Sox (55-44) are 7-1 against the Mariners this year heading into Thursday night’s series finale. They’re 4-1 against them since the All-Star break and 2-5 against everyone else. Chicago leads the AL Central by one game over Minnesota and four over Detroit.

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Chicago won the first two games of this series 6-1 and 11-0. Wednesday night’s Game 3 is still pending. Seattle has scored less than one run per game in the five second-half meetings.

The Mariners (39-62) don’t have a lot to play for at 20.5 games behind Texas in the AL West. Their 15-34 road record translates into minus 16.6 units, the third worst mark in the majors. Seattle is 7-25 in its last 32 meetings overall at the White Sox.

Seattle has the sixth-best AL ERA (3.95), but the bats have been beyond awful. The offense averages 3.28 runs per game and a .642 OPS, both MLB lows. No AL team has finished last in runs scored since Tampa Bay in 2006.

David Pauley (0-2, 2.18 ERA) gets the Thursday start for Seattle. He’s made three starts this year against three tough opponents (Yankees, White Sox and Red Sox). Pauley has acquitted himself nicely (2.70 ERA) despite allowing a homer each game. He’s also pitched four scoreless innings out of the pen.

The 27-year-old righty made his MLB debut in 2006, but has made just 15 total appearances. He got revenge against his former Boston team last Saturday, out-pitching Jon Lester in a 5-1 win. Seattle was a 175 home underdog for that game and will be an even bigger ‘dog on Thursday.

Pauley hasn’t made a road start this year. His last MLB road start was in 2006. His one career appearance against the White Sox was on July 19. He had a quality start (three earned runs over six innings), but the offense let him down in a 6-1 loss.

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Freddy Garcia (9-4, 4.74 ERA) will get the ball for Chicago. He began his big-league career with Seattle in 1999 and amassed 76 wins. He’s coming off a terrible start at Oakland on Saturday, five earned runs over 1 1/3 innings.

The 34-year-old righty has had three horrible starts that have skewed his ERA. He has made 13 quality starts in 18 tries. He’s 4-2 at home with a 3.65 ERA. Chicago is 4-0 in his last four home starts.

Garcia has one start against Seattle this year. It came at home on April 24, two earned runs over seven innings in a 5-4 win. Chicago is 4-0 in Garcia’s last four starts against Seattle. The ‘over’ is 5-0 in Garcia’s last five starts against the Mariners.

Jerry Layne will call balls and strikes. The home team is 38-18 in his last 56 games behind home plate. The ‘under’ is 8-2 in his last 10 games behind the dish.

First pitch on Thursday is 5:10 p.m. (PT). Weather should be clear and in the upper 70s. Neither team is reporting any significant injuries.

Chicago will welcome Oakland for a weekend series beginning Friday. Seattle heads to Minnesota for a three-game set.