The Houston Astros will head north to Guaranteed Rate Field to square off against the Chicago White Sox. NBC Sports Chicago will be airing this AL matchup and the first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
Houston Astros at Chicago White Sox Odds
The Astros are 13-7 SU and have gone 9-10 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 2.4 units for moneyline gamblers through the early part of the season and 3.0 units ATS. The White Sox, on the other hand, are 4-11 SU and 6-9 ATS. The team has lost 7.0 units for moneyline bettors and 5.0 units ATS.
White Sox games have an over/under record of 8-7 so far in 2018. Houston has been a decent under bet with a total record of 6-13.
Justin Verlander will get the nod for the visiting Astros. The right-handed Verlander is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 34 strikeouts. He has yet to face Chicago this year, but he made three starts against the team in 2017, posting a 1-0 record with a 3.52 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
The White Sox will put the ball in the right hand of James Shields (1-1, 4.50 ERA), who’s got seven strikeouts and nine walks as well as a 1.56 WHIP. Shields only made one start against the Astros in 2017 (0-1, 4.76 ERA and five strikeouts across 5.2 innings).
Houston’s pitchers have allowed 2.8 runs per game and its starters own a 2.26 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 11.72 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 2.89, along with a K-per-9 of 9.96.
Astros hitters have slashed .244/.330/.380 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.1 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Houston’s offense has been led by catcher Brian McCann and left fielder Josh Reddick. McCann is slashing .351/.467/.486 with 13 hits, four RBIs and seven runs scored, while Reddick (.250/.371/.500) is up to 13 hits, four homers, 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
Maintaining a slash line of .269/.348/.522 across 155 plate appearances, McCann enjoyed hitting against righties on the road in 2017 (his overall season line was .241/.323/.436).
For the home team, Chicago’s pitchers have given up 6.2 runs per game overall this year. The club’s starters have an ERA of 5.59, a WHIP of 1.56 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 5.8. The bullpen has a 5.71 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 10.5 K/9.
The Chicago hitters have produced 4.1 runs per contest, including 3.3 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over their last five. The team has hit .228/.290/.321 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The White Sox offense has been led by Matt Davidson and Jose Abreu. Davidson is slashing .216/.365/.529 with five home runs, 11 RBIs and 10 runs scored, and Abreu’s line is .274/.348/.516 with 17 hits, nine RBIs and nine runs.
The Astros have lost 3.8 units and are 5-7 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in three of those games, compared to nine that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the White Sox have lost 5.2 units and are 4-7 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in five of those games, compared to six that went under the total.
Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – White Sox, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in four of Houston’s last seven games.
- The White Sox have lost nine of their last 10 games SU.
- Chicago has recorded 19.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 20.0 over its last five.
- The Astros have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The White Sox have hit six over their last 10.
