The Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox continue their best-of-five AL Division Series Tuesday with a 2:07 p.m. ET first pitch at Guaranteed Rate Field. Let’s analyze the lines around the Astros vs. White Sox odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Lance McCullers Jr. is the projected starter for the Astros. He was 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 10.3 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 across 162 1/3 IP over 28 starts in the regular season.
- Started Game 1 of the series and held the White Sox scoreless on 4 hits over 6 2/3 IP.
- Current Chicago bats own a .532 OPS and .057 isolated power against him.
- Owns a 2.87 ERA in 53 1/3 career playoff innings.
LHP Carlos Rodon is the projected starter for the White Sox. Rodon went 13-5 with a 2.37 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 12.6 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 132 2/3 IP in 24 regular season starts.
- Making his first appearance in this series
- Faced 3 batters and allowed 2 ER on 1 H and 2 BB without recording an out in the 2020 postseason.
- Has posted a 2.51 ERA, 0.95 WHIP across his last 43 IP at home over a stretch that began with 1 hit, 0 walks and 10 k over 7 innings July 18 against the Astros. Also allowed 1 earned run through 7 innings against the Astros in Houston June 18.
- Current Houston batters own an aggregate .475 OPS against him.
Astros at White Sox odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 8:25 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Astros -103 (bet $103 to win $100) | White Sox -117 (bet $117 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Astros -1.5 (+155) | White Sox +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Prediction
Astros 4, White Sox 3
Money line (ML)
Houston took five of seven games from Chicago in the regular season before opening a 2-0 lead in the series. The White Sox bounced back in Game 3 to stave off elimination with a 12-6 win Sunday.
Game 4’s originally scheduled matchup – RHP Jose Urquidy vs. Rodon — made for some value on the Chicago side. However, the rainout and subsequent shift to McCullers for the Astros makes HOUSTON (-103) the lean.
McCullers’ ground-ball stuff gives the White Sox problems. Chicago momentum can be lost quickly due to the rainout and a couple of good early innings by the Houston righty. A reset of the bullpens favors the Astros, anda humid, breeze out to left-center field in the forecast does also: McCullers yield grounders and Rodon is prone to fly balls.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
PASS on the wide gulf between the prices here.
Over/Under (O/U)
McCullers added in, plus bullpen rest and the off day for hitters should’ve swung this total to 7.5, or at least made for a pricier 8.5.
BACK THE UNDER 8.5 (-107).
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