Teams looking to get a leg up in their season-opening series meet in Game 3 of their four-game series on Saturday when the Chicago White Sox battle the Houston Astros. The White Sox (1-1), who missed the playoffs a year ago, are looking to rebound this year and return to the postseason for the third time in four years. The Astros (1-1), who have reached the playoffs in each of the past six seasons, have won two World Series during that span and finished runner-up twice. Houston won four of the seven meetings with Chicago last year. Jose Urquidy will be on the hill for Houston, while Lucas Giolito is starting for Chicago.
The game is slated to begin at 2:10 p.m. ET from Minute Maid Park in Houston. The White Sox hit .256 as a team last year, fifth-best in MLB, while the Astros had a .248 average, 12th-best. Houston is the -125 favorite (risk $125 to win $100) on the money line in the latest White Sox vs. Astros odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total runs scored is 8.5. Before making any Astros vs. White Sox picks, be sure to check out the latest MLB predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It went 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks (+357) over the past two seasons, and it finished the 2022 MLB season on a 20-14 roll. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns.
Now, the model has dialed in on White Sox vs. Astros and revealed its predictions and best bets. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's MLB picks. Here are the MLB odds and betting trends for Astros vs. White Sox:
- White Sox vs. Astros money line: Chicago +105, Houston -125
- White Sox vs. Astros over/under: 8.5 runs
- White Sox vs. Astros run line: Astros -1.5 (+158)
- CWS: The White Sox are 5-2 in their last five games against American League West opponents
- HOU: The Astros are 6-0 in their last six Saturday games
- White Sox vs. Astros picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Astros
Right fielder Kyle Tucker helped power Houston past Chicago on Friday, going 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBI. In 150 games a year ago, Tucker batted .257 with 28 doubles, one triple, 30 homers and 107 RBI. He also drew 59 walks and stole 25 bases. Tucker dominated the White Sox in 2022, hitting .357 in 28 at-bats, with three doubles, one homer and seven RBI.
First baseman Jose Abreu, who played for the White Sox a year ago, is off to a fast start in Houston. He is 2-for-7 in two games, including one walk and one run scored. Last season, Abreu hit .304, with 40 doubles, 15 homers and 75 RBI. He also drew 62 walks, while slugging .446. Abreu is a .292 hitter with 243 homers and 863 RBI in 1,277 career at-bats in nine-plus seasons.
Why you should back the White Sox
Giolito is coming off an 11-9 record a year ago, including a 0-2 mark against Houston. In 161.2 innings, he allowed 171 hits, 88 earned runs, 24 homers, while walking 61 and striking out 177. In 2021, Giolito pitched a complete-game and earned a win in his only appearance against the Astros, allowing one run on three hits with zero walks and eight strikeouts.
Shortstop Tim Anderson is off to a fast start to the season, going 2-for-4 in each of the first two games. He has also walked twice and scored twice. Despite being limited by injuries a year ago, Anderson hit .301, including 13 doubles, six homers and 25 RBI in 79 games. Although he didn't face Houston last season, he hit .241 with a double, one triple, two homers and three RBI against the Astros in 2021.
How to make White Sox vs. Astros picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the run total, as the simulations have the teams combining for 8.4 runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Astros vs. White Sox? And which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the money line to jump on, all from the advanced model that finished last season on a roll, and find out.
