Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction: Will Jose Abreu and Chicago Continue to Smash Lefty Pitching?
Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction: Will Jose Abreu and Chicago Continue to Smash Lefty Pitching?
The Chicago White Sox enter tonight's series opener against the Houston Astros amid a season-high five-game road winning streak. Chicago obliterated Detroit 27-6 in a recent three-game sweep, but perhaps its more impressive two wins in the streak were two one-run wins against the Rays after losing the series' first game.
Houston snapped a mini-two-series losing streak by taking two out of three games from the Rangers. And while Chicago has been successful on the road of late, the Astros have owned the White Sox at home, winning 14 of the last 17 meetings in Houston.
Will Minute Maid Park continue to be a house of horrors for Chicago, or will the White Sox continue their road success? Or, based on tonight's pitching matchups, is a play of a different kind warranted? Read on for our best play and odds for Friday's series opener between the White Sox and Astros.
Astros vs. White Sox Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: June 17, 2022
- Game Time: 8:10 pm ET
- Where to Watch: Apple TV+
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Astros vs. White Sox Total Movement
Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction
When Chicago faces Houston's Framber Valdez (6-3, 2.64), it is a kind of good news/bad news situation. Valdez has pitched five or more innings in nine consecutive starts and has made eight straight quality starts in that span. Among all qualified pitchers, Valdez ranks 16th in ERA, 31st in WHIP (1.133), and 45th in K/9 rate (7.3). Valdez has shown good strike zone command this season, with a 2.179 K:BB ratio.
The good news for the White Sox is they have absolutely smashed left-handed pitching this season. Chicago ranks first in batting average (.296), first in wRC+ (141), first in wOBA (.362), and first in BABIP (.352) against southpaws. Despite this success, the White Sox are just 7-8 against left-handed starting pitchers this year, but they do not have their offense to blame for the sub-.500 record.
Chicago's Lucas Giolito (4-2, 3.88) is coming off an outing where he allowed four earned runs in 5.2 innings against Texas. Unlike Valdez, Giolito has quality starts in four of his ten appearances thus far and faces an Astros lineup that ranks seventh in slugging percentage (.408) and fourth in home runs (80) in the majors. Unfortunately, Giolito does not come in with the best momentum, as he has allowed 12 earned runs in his last 15.2 innings. He is 2-3 with a 3.71 ERA in his career against Houston, and his 6.4 K/9 rate versus the Astros is the lowest against any team he has faced at least five times in his career.
Something has to give from a moneyline perspective, as Houston is 13-3 when its moneyline odds are -190 or higher, while Chicago is a perfect 4-0 in games where it is at least a +160 underdog. However, we expect each team's successes to result in runs tonight, especially with how well the White Sox have fared against lefties and with the Astros facing a shaky Giolito.
Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox Pick
- Over 8 Runs (-110) (Bet $110 to Win $100)
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