The Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros will meet for the second battle of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park on Saturday. It's time to continue our MLB odds coverage with a White Sox-Astros prediction and pick.
The Astros demolished the White Sox 13-3 last night in Houston. They started things fast in the first inning when Alex Bregman launched a two-run blast to left field. It was his seventh in 2022, giving the Astros a 2-0 lead. The Astros struck again in the second when Yuli Gurriel whacked a shot into the seats in left to give Houston a 3-0 lead. Then, the Sox fired back when A.J. Pollock crushed a three-run bomb to left field. It made it a 3-3 game, and it would remain that way until the monster sixth inning arrived.
Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, and Chas McCormick delivered clutch hits to put the Astros up 603 when Michael Brantley approached the plate with the bases loaded. Next, Branley cleared the bases with a jaw-dropping grand slam home run to right field to propel the Astros to a 10-3 lead. Alvarez batted for the second time in the inning and clobbered an inside pitch to right field for a two-run blast that gave Houston a 12-3 lead. Next, Tucker batted again and smashed a solo shot for his 13th home run. The 10-run inning delivered all the scoring the Astros needed. The Astros are 40-24 and first in the AL West. Meanwhile, the White Sox are 30-32 and fifth in the AL Central.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the White Sox-Astros odds:
MLB odds: White Sox-Astros Odds
White Sox: +1.5 (-108)
Astros: -1.5 (-111)
Over: 8 (-105)
Under: 8 (-115)
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Why The White Sox Could Cover The Spread
The White Sox will roll with Johnny Cueto on the hill. Cueto is 0-3 with a 3.53 ERA. He lasted five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits in his last start. Cueto has lasted at least five innings in every start. He has also allowed three earned runs in every start over the past four starts. Cueto seeks his first victory and must toss a solid game, considering who is pitching opposite him. He also needs his offense to pick up the slack.
The White Sox are eighth in batting average, 21st in on-base percentage, 26th in runs, 23rd in home runs, and 24th in slugging percentage. The White Sox are 20th in the majors in average double plays per game. It highlights how they are getting on base but getting themselves out with awful grounders that turn into double plays. Jose Abreu is one of their top hitters and was batting .210 a month ago. Now, Abreu is batting .268 with nine home runs and 30 RBIs. He has two home runs and seven RBIs over a 10-game stretch. Chicago needs him and Andrew Vaughn to step up. Vaughn is batting .314 with six home runs and 29 RBIs.
The White Sox will cover the spread if they get a good outing out of Cueto. Additionally, Cueto will get his first win if the offense can give him run support. It will not be easy, considering who the Sox are facing.
Why The Astros Could Cover The Spread
The Astros will have Justin Verlander on the mound. Likewise, the likely future hall-of-famer is 8-2 with a 1.94 ERA. He is pitching lights out in 2022, after missing 2021. Verlander tossed seven innings in his last start, allowing four runs (none earned) with three hits and five strikeouts. Additionally, he has thrown six innings in every game over the last five starts. Verlander has the support of the best bullpen in baseball, as the Astros' relievers possess a 2.62 ERA. Houston also has excelled with a timely offense.
The Astros are 17th in batting average, 14th in on-base percentage, 18th in runs, fourth in home runs, and sixth in slugging percentage. Houston walloped four home runs in last night's ballgame and continues to smash the baseball. The Astros are a team that is a threat to hit the ball out of the yard at any given moment, and it is not wise to give them opportunities with runners on base.
The Astros will cover the spread if Verlander continues his masterful season and shuts down the Chicago lineup. Additionally, the Astros cover even if they score half of what they managed yesterday.
Final White Sox-Astros Prediction & Pick
The only way the Astros do not cover the spread is if Verlander struggles. It does not seem likely, as the Sox do not have the firepower to give him a bad day. Additionally, Cueto is good but is he good enough to hang with Verlander. All odds point to no. Expect the Astros to cover the spread in this battle.
Final White Sox-Astros Prediction & Pick: Astros -1.5 (-111)
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