White Sox revival tops Monday MLB betting board

The Chicago White Sox arrive in Texas on Monday night carrying one of the strangest glow-ups in baseball: a 52-46 record, first place in the AL Central and a chance to put three straight 100-loss seasons firmly in the rearview mirror.

According to CBS Sports, Chicago opens a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at 8:05 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field, where two division leaders meet with very different recent histories. The White Sox lead the Cleveland Guardians by one game, while the Rangers, at 50-49, sit half a game ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.

CBS Sports notes that Chicago lost 101, 121 and 102 games over the previous three seasons. Under manager Will Venable, the club is nine wins from passing its 2025 total and has won five of its past seven games.

The latest consensus odds cited by CBS Sports list Texas as a -167 favorite against Chicago. The SportsLine Projection Model is taking the White Sox +1.5 at -164, with its simulations showing Chicago covering the run line 71% of the time.

The pitching matchup gives the Rangers a marquee arm. CBS Sports reports that Jacob deGrom has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his past eight starts. The model still projects Chicago to stay close, with Texas having allowed 43 runs over its past five games.

Dodgers face Phillies on ESPN

The night’s national TV game sends the Los Angeles Dodgers to Philadelphia for a 7:10 p.m. ET first pitch against the Phillies on ESPN. CBS Sports lists the Phillies as -145 favorites.

Los Angeles, 63-37, owns the best record in the majors, according to CBS Sports, and began its nine-game road trip by taking two of three from the New York Yankees. Philadelphia, 55-45, dropped two of three at home to the New York Mets after the All-Star break.

SportsLine’s model pick is Dodgers +1.5 at -172, with Los Angeles covering the run line in 72% of simulations. CBS Sports expert Matt Severance is on the other side for the moneyline, backing the Phillies at -134 and citing the Dodgers’ Sunday day-night doubleheader as a concern.

CBS Sports reports that Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez has given up two runs across 43 innings in his past six home starts and is 2-0 in four career starts against the Dodgers.

Rays try to stop skid in Toronto

The Tampa Bay Rays, 56-42, visit the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:07 p.m. ET to begin a four-game AL East series. CBS Sports says Toronto is a -164 favorite, despite Tampa Bay having gone 5-1 against the Blue Jays in the first half.

The SportsLine model likes Rays +1.5 at -161, while CBS Sports expert Eric Cohen picks Tampa Bay on the moneyline at +126. CBS Sports reports Cohen is 16-4 with a profit of 1,198 over his last 20 MLB picks.

Toronto starts All-Star Dylan Cease, who has thrown 15 scoreless innings across his past two outings, according to CBS Sports. Tampa Bay counters with Nick Martinez, who has a 2.12 road ERA this season.

Brewers-Mets total gets model love

In Milwaukee, the NL Central-leading Brewers host the Mets at 7:40 p.m. ET. CBS Sports lists Milwaukee as a -216 favorite.

SportsLine’s model play is over 7.5 runs at -111, with the total going over in 71% of simulations. CBS Sports points to Milwaukee’s offense, tied for fourth in the majors with 502 runs, and recent signs of vulnerability from both starters.

Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta has allowed three runs or fewer in three of his past four starts, according to CBS Sports, but has not completed five innings in each of his past three. Brewers righty Jacob Misiorowski leads MLB with a 1.62 ERA, though CBS Sports reports he allowed at least three runs in each of his past two appearances.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.