The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox play at the Field of Dreams this Thursday. Surely the Over is the right MLB picks – right?
Thursday 12, August, 2021 – 7:00 PM EDT at Field of Dreams
If you build it, Fox will come. Major League Baseball will touch down in Iowa for the first time this Thursday when the Chicago White Sox “host” the New York Yankees at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville. Yes, that Field of Dreams – although it’s not technically the same diamond we saw in the 1989 Kevin Costner movie of the same name. This one was built about 500 feet into where the cornfield stood, so it would measure up to MLB standards. But does it?
According to MLB officials, this Field of Dreams is 335 feet down the lines, 400 feet to dead center, and 380 feet down the power alleys. That barely reaches the league’s minimum requirements – it’s more like what you’d find in Japan. So right away, we’re inclined to put the Over in our MLB picks, now that BetOnline have opened the total at nine runs.
Conveniently enough, those above measurements also correspond to Chicago’s usual home at New Comiskey, generally regarded as a hitter’s park since the walls were moved in 20 years ago. The Under is 31-24-3 there at press time, but don’t worry too much about that; the Field of Dreams is much more open to the elements, with seating capacity for just 7,911 fans and not a lot of foul territory, either.
So, for the first time ever, let’s look at Thursday’s weather report for Dyersville. It’s hot. Damn hot. Real hot. Game-time temperatures around 80 degrees are in the forecast; it should be somewhat humid, with average barometric pressure and maybe a little wind. The humidity won’t help us beat the MLB odds, but everything else is neutral-to-good for the Over. Splendid.
Oh, right: We also have two baseball teams to look at. The Yankees (62-51, minus-5.26 units at press time) have the Under at 63-47-3 this year, driven by their quality pitching and a host of injuries to key batsmen. But they’re a better team now since loading up at the trade deadline, and their totals have evened out at 4-4 since August 3. Plus, their projected starting pitcher is Andrew Heaney (4.47 FIP), who has the Over at 14-5 this year, most of that coming before the Yankees acquired him from the Los Angeles Angels to help fill out the recently opened holes their rotation.
The White Sox (67-47, plus-0.72 units) have had some health issues of their own. But they’ve got most of their core players back in the lineup now, and they’ve got an excellent pitcher taking the mound Thursday: Lance Lynn (3.01 FIP), who has the Under at 11-7-2 thus far. Not ideal for us, but Lynn’s rhythm might be a little off, as he was originally scheduled to pitch Wednesday. He’s also “due” for some regression, judging by his .260 BABIP and 85.2 percent (!) of runners stranded. Lynn’s last two starts both went Over, so let’s see if he makes it three in a row, and may the sphere be with you.
MLB Pick: Over 9 (–125) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.