This is a 10* TOP FRIDAY TOTAL on the OVER Indians/White Sox.

The White Sox are scuffling. They've lost six of their last ten, including two in a row.

That includes a 5-0 loss at the Royals yesterday. The ChiSox have now seen the total go UNDER in eight straight (if counting a push.)

Cleveland has been trading wins and losses over its last four games. It's off a 7-2 win over St. Louis at home two nights ago.

Fortunately for the offensively starving White Sox, they get to face Jean-Carlos Mejia, who is 1-6 with a 7.52 ERA and who was shelled for five runs, including three dingers, over six innings in a setback to the Rays last weekend.

Over his last 28 innings of work, Mejia has been rocked for nine home runs while posting a deplorable 9.00 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in that span.

The White Sox desperately need a win here. They'll feel confident with ace Lance Lynn on the mound. He's 10-3 with a 1.91 ERA. Lynn's dominated the Tribe throughout his career, but he's still just 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA vs. them this season.

I'm not going to lay the large juice on the White Sox, nor lay the 1.5 runs. I think the Indians are going to get some runs on the board here as well.

Both the numbers and the overall situation points to a higher-scoring SLUGFEST in this one. The play is the OVER.

Good luck, NP