Free MLB Pick: White Sox vs. Astros Odds
Looking for Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros free MLB predictions? MLB betting sees the White Sox taking on the Astros on Thursday, June 17th, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all MLB baseball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily MLB predictions like this White Sox Astros free pick.
2021 MLB Handicapping
(42-25) Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros (38-28)
Date: Thursday, June 17th, 2021
Time: 8:10 PM ET
Venue: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX.
Projected Pitchers: Dylan Cease (CHI) vs. Jose Urquidy (HOU)
MLB Moneyline Odds: White Sox +125 | Astros -148
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: White Sox +1.5, Astros -1.5
MLB Baseball Gambling Total: 9
Two of the best teams in the American League will begin a four game series beginning Thursday night at 8:10 ET in Houston.
These two teams have yet to meet each other this season. This will be the first time they have faced each other since the 2019 season.
This pitching matchup features two guys who have been having quite a bit of success this year. Dylan Cease will be going for the White Sox and Jose Urquidy will go for the Astros.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have played excellent baseball this year under new skipper Tony La Russa.
They have a 42-25 record, which is one of the best across the entire league. Chicago is in first place in the American League Central, 4.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians.
This team has been hot of late. Over the weekend, they took all three games against the Detroit Tigers. The Rays beat them by a score of 5-2 on Monday and then the Sox responded on Tuesday by blanking Tampa 3-0.
Dallas Keuchel showed signs of his Cy Young campaign Tuesday night when he fired seven innings and only allowed four hits against the Rays. This improved his ERA to 3.78.
Dylan Cease has been a solid arm in this rotation all year long. His last outing came against the Tigers where he went fiving innings and struck out seven.
The pitching staff as a whole for the White Sox has been great this year, with a 3.15 ERA. This is 3rd best in baseball. It does not come to much surprise, given the talented pitchers they have, including Guys like Lucas Giolito, Carlos Rodon, Lance Lynn, and the aforementioned Dallas Keuchel and Dylan Cease.
Pitching is not the only strength of this team. The White Sox rank in the top ten in runs scored per game, with an average just below five. Some key hitters in their lineup are Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, and Yermin Mercedes. Second baseman Nick Madrigal got hurt on Tuesday and will be out with a season-ending injury. His absence will be a big loss for them.
Surprisingly, the White Sox have only hit 66 home runs this year, which is 22nd best in baseball.
Houston Astros
Similar to the White Sox, the Astros have been a very good team this year.
Houston currently has a record of 38-28, which is second best in the American League West. They sit 2.5 games behind the Oakland Athletics.
The Astros have been playing good baseball as of late. They took the first game of the series against the Rangers on Tuesday night by a score of 6-3 thanks to a Jose Altuve walk-off grand slam.
The young righty Jose Urquidy has been solid this season with a 3.77 ERA.
This team has done quite well when it comes to run prevention. They are 11th in baseball with a 3.74 team ERA. Their rotation consists of young guys, such as Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia, and Thursday’s starter Jose Urquidy.
Veteran arms include Zack Greinke and Lance McCullers JR. What they have been able to accomplish is impressive given Gerrit Cole is no longer there and Justin Verlander is recovering from an injury.
The Astros offense is the best in baseball, scoring more than 5.5 runs per game.
They rank 11th with 83 homers.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- White Sox are 8-19 in their last 27 road games vs a right handed starter.
- White Sox are 1-5 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- White Sox are 1-5 in their last 6 road games with the total set at 7.0-9.0.
- Astros are 5-0 in their last games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right handed starter.
- Astros are 10-3 in their last 13 games on Thursday.
- Astros are 6-2 in their last 8 overall.
Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros MLB Prediction:
This is a tough game to predict given how even these teams are.
Both pitchers have been good, but I give the nod to Jose Urquidy.
I do not see this as a very high scoring game. The under in this game has caught my attention.
I will go with the total under 9 runs.
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: Under 9 Runs
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