The Houston Astros are heading north to Guaranteed Rate Field to face the Chicago White Sox. NBC Sports Chicago will broadcast 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 are 9-10 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 2.4 units for gamblers taking the moneyline through the early portions of the season and 3.0 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The White Sox, on the other hand, are 4-11 SU and 6-9 ATS. The team has lost 7.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.0 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has cashed in five of those seven.
White Sox games have an over/under record of 8-7 so far in 2018. Astros games have gone under 13 times, gone over six times and pushed on zero occasions.
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 did make three starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 1-0 record with a 3.52 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
The White Sox are sending righty James Shields (1-1, 4.50 ERA) to the mound. Shields has seven punchouts and nine walks to his name, 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 five and 2-third innings).
As a unit, Chicago’s pitchers have given up 6.2 runs per game overall this season. Its 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.
Chicago’s hitters are putting up 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 a slash-line of .228/.290/.321 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The White Sox batters have 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 scored.
For the visitors, Houston’s pitching staff 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/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).
Catcher Brian McCann and left fielder Josh Reddick have led Houston’s hitters. McCann is slashing .351/.467/.486 with 13 hits, four RBIs and seven runs scored, while Reddick (.250/.371/.500) has produced 13 hits, four homers, 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
Maintaining a slash line of .269/.348/.522 across 155 such plate appearances, McCann enjoyed batting against righty pitching on the road last year (compared to his total season slash line of .241/.323/.436).
The Astros have lost 3.8 units and are 5-7 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in three of those games, compared to nine that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the White Sox have lost 5.2 units and are 4-7 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in five of those games, compared to six which went under the total.
Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – White Sox, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – UNDER
Notes
Betting Trends
The White Sox have lost nine of their last 10 games SU.
Chicago has posted 19.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings 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.
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