White Sox vs. Astros ALDS Betting Odds
| White Sox Series Price | +106 |
| Astros Series Price | -124 |
Series Schedule
- Game 1: Thursday, Oct. 7, FS1 or MLB Network
- Game 2: Friday, Oct. 8, FS1 or MLB Network
- Game 3: Sunday, Oct. 10, FS1 or MLB Network
- Game 4: Monday, Oct. 11, FS1 or MLB Network (if necessary)
- Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 13, FS1 (if necessary)
Overview
The champions of the AL Central and West meet in a rematch of the 2005 World Series when Houston still played in the National League.
The White Sox are in the postseason for the second-straight year after getting bounced by Oakland in last year's wild-card round. Chicago is looking for its first postseason series win since that aforementioned World Series year of 2005.
Houston is in the postseason for the fifth-straight year and sixth time in the last seven years. The Astros lost in the ALCS to the Tampa Bay Rays last year and lost the World Series to the Washington Nationals in 2019. They won the World Series in 2017 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Astros won the season series, 5-2. They swept the White Sox in a four-game series in Houston in mid-June, and the White Sox took 2-of-3 during their series in Chicago a month later.
Chicago White Sox
Top Position Players
- Yoan Moncada, 3B
- Tim Anderson, SS
- Yasmani Grandal, C
- Luis Robert, CF
- Jose Abreu, 1B
The White Sox offense has ranked among the top in the majors all season, which is particularly impressive when you consider time missed by key players. Luis Robert missed three months, Eloy Jimenez didn't debut until late July and Yasmani Grandal played fewer than 100 games.
The team's wRC+ of 110 ranks third in the majors and its wOBA of .329 ranks fifth.
Projected Starting Rotation
- Lance Lynn, RHP
- Lucas Giolito, RHP
- Dylan Cease, RHP
- Carlos Rodon, LHP
The White Sox run four deep with workhorse starters, and past Astros postseason hero Dallas Keuchel will likely be relegated to the bullpen after a rough season.
Lynn, the big offseason trade addition, is the frontline starter and was a Cy Young contender — and even favorite at one point — for a good chunk of the season.
The big wild card here is Rodon, who has dealt with shoulder issues down the stretch and whose viability in a big postseason spot is unknown. He made his last regular-season start on Wednesday and went five shutout innings against the Reds, but was pulled after just 69 pitches. The high-end velocity he tapped into during his own ascent into the Cy Young conversation wasn't there, and his status will obviously be monitored closely.
Key Bullpen Pieces
- Liam Hendriks
- Craig Kimbrel
- Ryan Tepera
- Michael Kopech
- Garrett Crochet
- Aaron Bummer
The White Sox boast two proven, playoff-tested closers in Hendriks, who was signed to a big free-agent deal in the offseason, and Kimbrel, who was acquired from the Cubs at the trade deadline.
Kimbrel has struggled mightily since donning the black and white, allowing five home runs after joining the team with only one allowed all season, and walking 10 in 23 innings.
Kopech could be the big key to this bullpen, as the former top prospect and probably future starter has been stretched out to throw three-inning stints, and has been lights-out for a majority of this season. The White Sox could utilize him in a stopper role late in close games, and the length he could provide could be a huge factor.
Houston Astros
Top Position Players
- Carlos Correa, SS
- Jose Altuve, 2B
- Kyle Tucker, RF
- Yordan Alvarez, DH
- Yuli Gurriel, 1B
- Michael Brantley, LF
All those stats about the White Sox offense above? The Astros have been better.
Houston finished with a 115 wRC+ on the year, tops in the majors, and its .335 wOBA is second only to Toronto.
The Astros' biggest asset offensively, though, is how difficult they are to strike out. They only strike out in 19.5% of their plate appearances, the lowest mark in baseball.
Pairing that type of discipline with so many elite, battle-tested bats is tough to beat.
Projected Starting Rotation
- Lance McCullers Jr., RHP
- Framber Valdez, LHP
- Luis Garcia, RHP
- Jose Urquidy, RHP
McCullers and Valdez are essentially 1A and 1B at the top of the rotation. The big issue for the former has been walks. He leads the majors with 76 free passes issued, but has been elite at keeping the ball in the park, with only a 0.7 HR/9 on the season.
Valdez has been steady all season. The lefty may run a risk against a White Sox lineup that is right-handed heavy, but his elite curveball makes him just as big of a weapon against righties. He doesn't present a notable platoon split against opposite-handed hitters.
Like with Keuchel against the White Sox, a former Cy Young winner will likely be relegated to the bullpen. Zack Greinke has been battling injuries toward the end of the season and is a shell of the pitcher who put up Hall of Fame-caliber numbers for most of his career. Still, as a multi-inning relief ace he could be interesting.
Key Bullpen Pieces
- Kendall Graveman
- Ryne Stanek
- Ryan Pressly
- Brooks Raley
- Yimi Garcia
The Astros remade a shaky bullpen at the deadline, too, acquiring Kendall Graveman from the division rival Mariners, and Yimi Garcia from the Marlins.
Like Kimbrel, Graveman has been more of a setup man since joining Houston after closing in Seattle. The Astros' closer is Pressly, who put up an entirely deserving All-Star campaign.
The Astros have several intriguing arms outside of the expected late-inning corp who could be utilized in a variety of ways, including Greinke and occasional starter Cristian Javier.
