MLB Odds: White Sox clinging with weak pen

The Chicago White Sox bring a depleted bullpen and fading playoff hopes into Wednesday's battle with the Baltimore Orioles during the finale of this three-game series.

Tuesday's opener saw the White Sox defeat the Orioles as 165 home favorites, 7-5. It was just Chicago's fifth win in its last 15 games, moving the club within 3 1/2 games of first-place Minnesota in the AL Central.

However, the win came at a cost for Chicago's bullpen. The White Sox will lose relievers Matt Thornton (sore left forearm) and J.J. Putz (right knee inflammation) to the disabled list. The team called up a pair of relievers from the minors Wednesday to replace the two veterans.

Chicago's bullpen is 1-5 with four blown saves and a 6.17 ERA over the last eight games, allowing six home runs.

Baltimore's Luke Scott homered and Felix Pie had three hits as the club lost for the eighth time in its last 12 outings. Scott suffered a foot injury later in the game and is day-to-day. Baltimore outfielder Adam Jones left the game with a left shoulder contusion after getting hit by a pitch the top of the fourth. He is also listed as day-to-day.

Jacob Arrieta (4-5, 4.90 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Wednesday's finale for the Orioles. The 24-year-old right-hander suffered a tough 2-0 loss against Texas last Friday in his most recent start despite allowing just one earned run on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings spanning 111 pitches. Arrieta walked three and fanned three as a hefty 170 home underdog.

The White Sox will counter with Edwin Jackson (7-10, 4.67 ERA), who they recently acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The hard-throwing right-hander is 1-0 in three starts for the White Sox, with all three dipping ‘under' the closing total.

Jackson hasn't pitched since Aug. 14 against Detroit, but he was not involved in the decision after allowing one run on five hits through seven innings. Jackson walked three batters and fanned 11 spanning 112 pitches. Chicago eventually lost the game as a 155 home favorite, 3-2.

Prior to this three-game series, the Orioles went 3-1 against the White Sox in a four-game series at Baltimore during the second week in August. All four games dipped ‘under' the closing total when neither team scored more than four runs during any of the matchups.

Though the ‘under' is now 7-1 in the last eight series meetings, the White Sox have seen the ‘over' go 8-1 in their last nine overall outings.

The White Sox are 36-24 at home, 52-42 versus right-handed starters, 4-9 in extra innings and 20-20 in one run games. Ozzie Guillen's troops have a plus-63 run differential.

The Orioles are a dismal 17-44 on the road and 31-55 against right-handed starters. Ironically, the cellar-dwelling Orioles have been excellent in close games this season. They are 11-3 in extra innings and 22-18 in one-run games. Unfortunately, the Birds have a minus-186 run differential.

Ed Hickox is scheduled to be the home-plate umpire in Wednesday's finale. Though the ‘over' is 14-13 overall when he has been in charge of balls and strikes, the ‘under' is 6-1 in his last seven home- plate assignments. There has been an average of 14 runs per game when he dons the mask.

Don't forget to check the weather forecast in Chicago for this contest, as well as all the games on Thursday's MLB slate.