White Sox vs. Astros Odds
| White Sox Odds | +134 |
| Astros Odds | -158 |
| Over/Under | 7.5 |
| Time | 7:08 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
| Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
The Houston Astros are 40-25 on the season, which is the second-best record in the American League.
The Astros are also the defending American League champions, having lost last year's World Series to the Atlanta Braves.
On their way to winning the American League pennant last October, the Astros met and bested the Chicago White Sox in the divisional round.
The White Sox aren't in playoff positioning at the moment (31-32 record), but as a team just three games out of the wild card, it's conceivable that these two squads could meet once again in October.
The parlay I've picked out for tonight's contest assumes this one will go the same way as their series in last year's playoffs.
The Parlay (+340):
- Astros ML
- Jose Altuve to record a hit
- Cristian Javier 7+ strikeouts thrown
Same-Game Parlay: White Sox vs. Astros
Astros ML
I like the Astros to win at home here.
Chicago's Michael Kopech is a very talented pitcher, and he's been quite good this year, as he's allowed more than three earned runs only once in 11 starts. Kopech has a 1.92 ERA on the season, but his xFIP is 5.19.
xFIP normalizes for home run rate, and it clearly shows that Kopech would be in some serious trouble if he started giving up home runs at a league average rate.
The good news for Kopech is that he's allowed just two home runs in 51.2 innings this season (0.35 HR/9). Clearly, it's difficult to hit home runs against Kopech, who is mostly a two-pitch pitcher (fastball and slider) at this point of his career.
Kopech will give up fly balls, though, as his ground-ball percentage is just 29% this season.
The Astros have a disciplined lineup with line-drive hitters from top to bottom. I expect them to take advantage against Kopech.
Jose Altuve to Record Hit
Altuve is hitting just .274 overall on the season, but he's hitting .365 at home this year. Kopech is a strikeout pitcher with a 25% K% this season, but that number goes down to 23% against right-handed batters like Altuve.
Altuve has a 17% K% against right-handed pitching this season. He should be able to take advantage of Kopech, who allows 52% fly balls this year.
Line-drive hitters typically have success against fly-ball pitchers and Altuve has a 24% line-drive percentage against right-handed pitching this season.
Altuve will also occupy his customary leadoff spot in the lineup for this game, which could give him an extra at-bat late in the game. That's just one more chance he'll have to record a hit if he hasn't done so already.
Cristian Javier 7+ Strikeouts Thrown
Javier has been solid this year with a 3.20 ERA. He's covered this number a lot recently, as he's recorded at least seven strikeouts in three of his last five starts.
In two of those starts, he recorded nine strikeouts and also in two of those starts, he failed to complete even five innings.
Javier is certainly an up-and-down pitcher at this point in his career. Javier has a 30% K% overall on the season, but that number climbs to 40% against right-handed batters.
The White Sox lineup is extremely right-handed heavy and also without star shortstop Tim Anderson and outfielder Eloy Jimenez.
I expect Javier to have the upper hand against this watered down version of the White Sox lineup. He will rack up the strikeouts on the way to a victory for Houston.
