White Sox vs. Guardians Recap: Murakami Homer Leads 3-0 Shutout

The White Sox beat the Guardians 3-0, and it was a pitching game from the first pitch. Neither side scored until the 4th, when Munetaka Murakami hit a two-run homer to right off Parker Messick. Colson Montgomery added a run-scoring double in the 7th to make it 3-0. Five Chicago pitchers combined to allow 3 hits, and Cleveland never got a runner home. Four DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

ALT: Under 8.5 total runs (alt, targeted -200 or better): CASHED - Our read: This was the lowest total on the slate at 6.5, with Messick starting for Cleveland and Chicago planning a full bullpen game after two off days. Cleveland's offense also scored 678 runs this year, a low number for a playoff team. - What happened: The game finished with 3 total runs, 5.5 under the line. Chicago scored in only two innings, and Cleveland had 3 hits all day. - Worth watching: When the main total is already 6.5, an alt Under at 8.5 gives a lot of room. The price on lines like this gets steep, so it only makes sense at a number you are comfortable with.

F5: Under 4.5 total runs (-188 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Messick (2.56 ERA, 1.06 WHIP) against a White Sox bullpen game opened by Hagen Smith (1.29 ERA, 13.2 K/9), with a main total of only 6.5. - What happened: It was 2-0 after five innings, 2.5 runs under the line. Smith went 2.2 innings with no hits, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. Cleveland had 1 hit through five, a Travis Bazzana double in the 4th. Messick allowed the two Chicago runs on the Murakami homer and went 4.1 innings with 6 strikeouts. - Worth watching: First-five lines take the bullpens mostly out of it and lean on the starters. With two strong arms opening a low-total game, that angle is worth checking again, though we would pass on prices past -200.

NRFI (no run 1st inning): CASHED - Our read: Messick came in with a 1.41 first-inning ERA (5 runs in 32 starts, .158 average against), and Chicago opened with the lefty Smith (.117 opponent average) against a Cleveland lineup with a .675 OPS vs lefties. - What happened: Both teams went scoreless in the 1st. Messick gave up a walk to Miguel Vargas and a single to Murakami, then struck out Tommy Pham to end the threat. Smith set down Steven Kwan, Jose Ramirez and Chase DeLauter in order. - Worth watching: Messick did bend in the top of the 1st, so the margin was thinner than the final score suggests. The first-inning numbers on both starters are still the reason to look at this market again when they pitch.

Munetaka Murakami to hit a home run (+512 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Murakami came in with 35 homers and 4 in his last 15 games. We noted the lefty Messick was a tougher draw for him (.376 SLG vs LHP), which is why this was a long shot. - What happened: This long shot landed. Murakami hit a 440-foot homer to right in the 4th that scored Vargas and broke the scoreless tie. He finished with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, 1 run and 2 RBI, and also singled in the 1st. - Worth watching: Home run props carry long odds even for a power bat in form. It cashed here despite the tough lefty matchup, but it is a small-stake idea, not a core play.

How the game played out

Cleveland had chances early but did not cash them. Three straight walks loaded the bases in the 3rd, and Bryan Hudson came on to get the final out. In the 4th, Bazzana's double put two runners in scoring position, and again nobody scored. Grant Taylor then closed it with 4 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits with 6 strikeouts.

Trends to watch

• Chicago's pitchers struck out 12 Guardians and allowed 3 hits. Cleveland's 3, 4 and 5 hitters, DeLauter, Jo Adell and Angel Martinez, went hitless in 12 at-bats with 6 strikeouts.
• Cleveland drew 5 walks, so traffic was there. The lineup just could not get the big hit.
• Colson Montgomery had 2 hits in 3 at-bats from the 9th spot, including the 7th-inning double that scored Kyle Teel. Chicago got its insurance run from the bottom of the order.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. New to these markets? Read up on the total and the player prop, or see more at the MLB hub.