This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Unless you were among the stingiest sandlot football defenders to ever live, chances are you heard the phrase “losers walk” a few times growing up.
What the Chicago White Sox wouldn’t give these days for an “L” merely to command traipsing back to the other end of the field.
If the White Sox lose to the visiting Los Angeles Angels tonight, they’ll have scored fewer runs than their opponent 121 times, giving them the most single-season defeats in major league baseball since 1901.
Losses by the Atlanta Dream and Seattle Storm, meanwhile, would mean their WNBA seasons were over with first-round playoff sweeps.
Not so for the White Sox, who have five more chances to ward off or deepen the futility mark after tonight.
Will “L” be in the air at Guaranteed Rate Field? Our prediction kicks off today’s best bets.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX
“When you lose 120, it’s easier to brush off,” White Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi said. “But it sucks to have to go through it. No one wants to go through it. That’s where we’re at.”
Here’s thinking Chicago delays what many feel is the inevitable for at least another night. Why? For one thing, rookie right-hander Jonathan Cannon defeated the Angels in La La Land last week and has been sharp lately.
Cannon (4-10, 4.61 ERA) is after his third win victory in four September starts. On Sept. 16, he delivered 6 2/3 innings of four-run, three-hit ball to beat the Angels, walking two and tying a career high with seven strikeouts.
Angels counterpart Jack Kochanowicz, a fellow rookie righty, was plenty sharp against Chicago in a no-decision one night later. Kochanowicz (2-5, 4.56) spaced one run and five hits in seven innings with zero walks and a career-high five strikeouts.
Nah, a would-be pitching duel on a brisk night in Chicago won’t transform this into a playoff-like atmosphere between the American League’s two worst clubs, but its tempo should keep fans on edge with baseball history flailing in the balance.
A big night from Cannon and enough from a feeble attack put the White Sox in the “W” column for just the 37th time.
Jonathan Cannon over 4.5 strikeouts (+105, BetMGM)
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ATLANTA DREAM AT NEW YORK LIBERTY
Courtney Vandersloot starred as the Chicago Sky’s point guard for 12 seasons
The Sky once acquired the rights to Leonie Fiebich in a trade.
Both players are now shining with the New York Liberty, who used a career-best 21 points from Fiebich to top Atlanta 83-69 in Sunday’s playoff opener. Vandersloot dished three assists to set a new league mark for career helpers in the playoffs.
New York had four players in double figures and overcame a sluggish finish. The Dream outscored the Liberty 20-14 in the fourth quarter as Rhyne Howard (14 points) and Tina Charles (12) led the charge, but top-seeded New York simply has too much talent. That adds up to a Liberty sweep.
Liberty winning margin of 6-10 points (+400 with BetMGM)
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SEATTLE STORM AT LAS VEGAS ACES
Two-time defending champion Las Vegas blitzed Seattle 14-2 in Sunday’s fourth quarter to seal a series-opening 78-67 victory.
League MVP A’ja Wilson finished with 21 points and five blocks but was not without her struggles, shooting 1-for-8 from the floor in the first quarter.
Seattle managed only a pair of free throws in the fourth but couldn’t close despite a double-double from Nneka Ogwumike (13 points, 10 rebounds) and near double-doubles from Skylar Diggins-Smith (16 points, eight assists) and Gabby Williams (14 points, eight rebounds).
Droughts can be common in Las Vegas, we hear, but they won’t recur in this series. Look for both sides to be sharp, with the Aces, who have won three straight in this rivalry, closing things on their home floor in a close one.
Aces winning margin of 1-5 points (+450 with BetMGM)
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