SPORTS BETTING

ALDS Game 2: Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros odds, picks and prediction

Skip Snow
Sportsbook Wire

The Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros continue their best-of-five AL Division Series Friday at 2:07 p.m. ET at Minute Maid Park. Let's analyze the lines around the White Sox vs. Astrosodds with MLB picks and predictions.

RHP Lucas Giolito is the projected starting pitcher for the White Sox. He is 11-9 with a 3.53 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 10.1 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 through 178 2/3 IP over 31 starts in the regular season.

  • Allowed just 2 ER over his last 16 1/3 IP, and owns a 2.36 ERA and 0.97 WHIP since Aug. 9.
  • Posted a 3.00 ERA on the road (3.93 at home) over the last three years.

LHP Framber Valdez is the projected starter for the Astros. Went 11-6 with a 3.14 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 8.4 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 through 134 2/3 IP spanning 22 starts.

  • Has allowed a fine .671 OPS over his career and has held foes to a mere .625 mark across 156 1/3 IP over his career at home.
  • Faces a White Sox club swung around to its best platoon splits. Chicago owns a .775 OPS against left-handers.

White Sox at Astros odds, lines, picks and prediction

MLB odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 8:50 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: White Sox +102 (bet $100 to win $102) | Astros -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: White Sox +1.5 (-205) | Astros -1.5 (+165)
  • Over/Under: 7.5 (O: -125 | U: +100)

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Prediction

Astros 5, White Sox 3

Money line (ML)

Houston took five of seven games from Chicago in the regular season. The Astros went 4-0 in the games at Minute Maid and outscored the White Sox, 27-8 in those contests. Houston won Thursday's series opener, 6-1.

With a similar bent to this contest, the Astros are the lean but PASS on the ML and consider the run line leverage and a plus payout.

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

The White Sox can be quite average against ground-ball pitchers. They had trouble with RHP Lance McCullers and his ground-ball stuff (56.4% GB) in the opener. Valdez owns a monster 70.3% GB rate.

Bullpens, defense and the ability to hit relief pitching are all Houston advantages. BACK THE ASTROS -1.5 (+165).

Over/Under (O/U)

The White Sox finished the regular season on a good note, slashing a .283/.361/.467 (.827 OPS) over their last 12 games. Houston had its ups and downs in September but still owns a robust .272/.342/.466 (.809) line over its last 41 games.

Peg the starters here as having some fade lean. And any rest-rust trepidation in taking an over is now cleared.

The Over was a strong play in the opener, but the 7 combined runs fell a half-run short. The OVER 7.5 (-125) is a solid play for Game 2.

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