It’s a rematch, of sorts, of the 2005 World Series when the White Sox and Astros meet for an interesting four-game weekend series in Houston beginning Thursday night. Jose Urquidi and his 1.03 WHIP hit the hill for the home team here against Dylan Cease and his 3.38 ERA for the visitors. How are we playing this game with our free baseball betting pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Thursday’s baseball betting lines opened Houston and Urquidi at around -130 with an over/under of nine runs. Both those figures were holding steady in the early betting action.
The Astros could also be found getting +150 giving the run and a half on the run line at Circa sportsbook in Las Vegas.
White Sox-Astros MLB Betting Preview
Chicago just took two out of three games at home from Tampa Bay, winning Wednesday’s series rubber match 8-7 in 10 innings. Just before that, the White Sox swept three games in Detroit, and just before that, they took two of three at home from Toronto. Going back a bit further, Chicago is 4-0 over its last four series and 10-3 over their last 13 games.
At 43-25, the White Sox lead the American League by a half-game over the Rays. Chicago is also playing ahead of schedule against its season wins over/under of 90.5.
Houston, meanwhile, just swept two games at home from Texas, winning Wednesday’s series finale 8-4. Just before that, the Astros took two of three at Minnesota, and just before that, they took two of three at Boston. Going back a bit further, Houston is 5-0 over its last five series and 11-4 over its previous 15 games.
At 39-28, the Astros lead Cleveland by one game in the battle for the second American League wild-card spot. Houston is also ahead of schedule, playing against its wins O/U of 87.5.
This series is the first meeting between these two teams since 2019 when they split six games.
Thursday’s Pitching Match-Up
Urquidy is 5/11 on quality starts this season, but all five of those came in his last seven starts. Last Friday, he gave up three runs and four hits, although three of those left the ballpark through seven innings of a 6-4 Houston victory over Minnesota. Just prior to that, he got clipped for six runs in less than five innings of a 6-2 loss to Toronto, but that came on the heels of a pretty good month of May in which he allowed just three runs over four starts.
The Astros are 7-4 with Urquidy this season, 6-1 over his last seven starts.
This will be Urquidy’s first-ever start against the White Sox, which could give him an edge, at least for the first couple of times through the lineup.
Cease is 4/13 on quality starts this year but two for his last four. Last Saturday, he held Detroit to two runs and four hits through five frames of a 15-2 Chicago romp. And just prior to that, albeit also against the Tigers, he tossed seven innings of five-hit, shutout ball with ten strikeouts. But over his three starts previous to that, Cease got creased for 12 runs through 13 2/3 innings. So he’s been running a bit hot-and-cold over the last month-plus.
The White Sox are 8-5 with Cease this season, 8-2 over his last ten starts.
This will be Cease’s first start against Houston since 2019 when he allowed four runs – two earned – over six innings of a 6-2 Chicago loss.
Splits With the Sticks
Chicago is batting .245 this season against right-handed pitching, with a .335 team OBP and a .385 team slugging percentage.
Houston is slashing .268/.342/.448 against RH pitching this season. Numbers like those lead us to rank this lineup as the best in Baseball in this split.
- Get more details: CWS/HOU 6/17/21 Matchup Stats
The Bullpens
The White Sox bullpen owns a 3.55 ERA this season, along with a 1.25 WHIP and a 3.49 K/BB ratio, which ranks No. 1 in MLB.
The Astros pen owns a 4.23 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and a 2.25 K/BB ratio.
MLB Betting Trends
- The White Sox are 16-13 on the road this season.
- The Astros are 22-13 at home this season.
- The White Sox are 25-21 against right-handed starters this season.
- The Astros are 22-14 vs. RH starters this season.
Totals Report
Unders are 38-28 in White Sox games this season.
Overs are 40-25 in Astros games this season.
Overs are 21-14 in games played at Minute Maid Park this season.
Overs are a combined 13-11 with Urquidy and Cease this season.
