Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros Odds & Predictions

After splitting the first two games of this three-game series the Astros and White Sox play a rubber match on this week’s edition of Sunday night baseball in Houston. Christian Javier hits the hill for the home team here against Michael Kopech for Chicago. How are we playing this game with our free baseball betting pick?

MLB Betting Odds

Sunday’s baseball betting lines opened Houston and Javier at around -175 over Chicago and Kopech, with an over/under of eight runs. Early betting action then bumped the Astros a nickel to -180.

White Sox-Astros MLB Betting Preview

Houston took the opener of this series Friday night 13-3 but Chicago won Saturday’s game 7-0. The Astros won as -160 favorites on the dime line Friday while the White Sox won as +200 underdogs Saturday against Justin Verlander. With Saturday’s victory Chicago is 4-1 over its last five games. At 31-32 overall the White Sox trail first-place Minnesota by five games in the AL Central and they’re three games back of Cleveland in the battle for the third and final AL wild-card spot. With Saturday’s loss Houston is 4-2 over its last six games. At 40-25 overall the Astros lead the AL West by nine games over the second-place Rangers. This series is the first meeting between these teams this season. Last year Houston took the season series from Chicago five games to two, then beat the White Sox in four games in a divisional-round playoff series.

Sunday’s Pitching Match-Up

Javier is 2/8 on quality starts this season. Monday he held Texas to two runs and five hits through six innings of a 5-3 Houston loss. Just before that he gave up five runs in less than four innings of a 7-4 Astros loss to Seattle. But he had been pretty good before that, allowing just two runs over his three previous outings, covering 15 2/3 innings. Houston is 4-4 with Javier this season but that’s at least one game worse than it should be, based on his performances. This will be Javier’s first career start against the White Sox. Kopech is 3/11 on quality starts this year. Last Sunday he threw just 13 pitches against Texas before leaving the game with pain in his knee. But apparently he’s good to go Sunday night. Two starts ago Kopech held the Dodgers scoreless on one hit through six innings, with one walk against eight strikeouts, in a 4-0 Chicago victory. The White Sox are 5-6 with Kopech this year but that’s also at least a game worse than it should be. This will be Kopech’s first career start against the Astros.

Splits With the Sticks

Chicago is batting .239 against right-handed pitching this season, with a .294 team OBP and a .349 team slugging percentage. This line-up is also operating without injured SS Tim Anderson (.356 this season). But the White Sox have also scored at least five runs eight times over their last nine games. Houston is slashing .240/.319/.414 against right-handed pitching. The Astros have also scored at least nine runs three times over their last five games.

The Bullpens

The Houston bullpen owns a ML-best 2.55 ERA this season, along with a 1.10 WHIP. The Chicago pen owns a 4.30 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

MLB Betting Trends

The White Sox are 18-15 on the road this season and 24-23 against right-handed starters. The Astros are 17-11 at home and 26-18 against RH starters.

Totals Report

• The totals are split 30-30 in White Sox games this season.
• The Under is 43-21 in Astros games.
• The Under is 18-10 at Minute Maid Park this season.
• The Under is a combined 12-6 with Javier and Kopech this season.