Expectations were high for both of these teams heading into the season. The Astros have lived up to the hype (so far) with a nine-game lead in the AL West. As for the White Sox, that’s a different story.
Chicago’s Southsiders find themselves with a losing 31-32 record, good for third place in the AL Central. Heading into this Sunday night game, the White Sox stand five games behind the division-leading Twins.
The White Sox vs Astros odds show Houston as a significant favorite for this nationally televised draw. Houston won the first game of this series in runaway fashion (13-3), then the White Sox returned the favor with a 7-0 shellacking on Saturday. Will Sunday’s meeting result in another lopsided box score?
Let’s dive into the White Sox vs Astros odds and betting action while dropping a pick for this Sunday Night Baseball matchup.
White Sox Vs Astros Odds
| Team | Runline | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Sox | +1.5 (-165) | +135 | O 7.5 (-110) |
| @ Astros | -1.5 (+140) | -160 | U 7.5 (-110) |
Odds via PointsBet USA as of 10:00 a.m. on June 19.
Regression For Michael Kopech?
White Sox starter Michael Kopech suffered a knee injury after recording just two outs in his last start (June 12 vs. Texas). After tossing a successful bullpen session early this week, Kopech has been cleared to start in this Sunday Night Baseball matchup. Kopech has been brilliant with a 1.92 ERA with 51 strikeouts across 51.2 innings this season.
While Kopech deserves credit for his strong numbers to this point, let’s be honest: It’s not sustainable. At least that’s what the stats say. His 1.92 ERA paired with a 4.50 xFIP screams regression at some point. Will it happen against a tough Houston lineup on Sunday?
On offense, the White Sox rank 18th in wOBA and 21st in runs per game. That’s well below expectations heading into the season. Injuries have played a role, as Eloy Jimenez, Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Leury Garcia, and Yasmani Grandal are all dinged up. Of that group, Moncada is questionable to play on Sunday evening. The others could remain out.
Is Cristian Javier For Real?
Cristian Javier has stepped up as a solid rotational piece for the Astros this season. The 25-year-old righty currently sports a 3.20 ERA with 63 strikeouts across 50.2 innings. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of his last five starts. Javier has recorded seven-plus strikeouts in three of those games.
It’s no surprise that Houston boasts one of the top offenses in baseball. The Astros rank fourth in wRC+ and ninth in wOBA at the moment. DH Yordan Alvarez has turned into one of the best hitters in the league. The big lefty ranks third in wRC+ behind only Mike Trout and Paul Goldschmidt. Yes, that’s ahead of Aaron Judge for those of you wondering.
The Astros have been boom-or-bust on offense lately, exemplified by scoring 13 runs in Game 1 of this series compared to a shutout in Game 2. Veteran Johnny Cueto of the White Sox was able to blank the Astros on Saturday. Is that cause for concern, or just a blip on the radar?
Same Game Parlay: Alvarez & The Boys
Speaking of Yordan Alvarez, he has been the engine behind Houston’s big wins lately. Taking him to rake in a same game parlay with the Houston run line translates to some juicy odds on DraftKings. Take a look:
As shown in the graphic, DraftKings has the best odds for this correlated same-game parlay.
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White Sox vs Astros Odds & Action
Where Is The Public/Sharp Money?
Check back for updates on White Sox vs Astros odds and betting action.
UPDATE SUNDAY 12:15 p.m. ET: The Astros opened -175 on the moneyline early Sunday morning. That number has ticked down gradually to -160 and even -155 at several sportsbooks. Despite that, DraftKings reports 70% of tickets and 69% of the handle is on the Houston moneyline
The total has held steady at the opening number of 7.5. DraftKings reports 75% of betting tickets and 79% of money supporting the Over.
White Sox vs Astros Pick
This will be a tight battle between two solid pitchers, right? Not exactly.
While Javier has earned his strong 3.20 ERA on the year, the numbers suggest that Kopech is due for regression. Even though the White Sox starter has been cleared to start, he acknowledged that he’s “going to feel it for the rest of the year” – as expressed in an article by the Chicago Tribune.
So let’s take inventory for Chicago:
- Starting pitcher facing regression
- Starting pitcher playing through pain
- Bottom 10 offense plagued by injuries
Translation: plenty could go wrong for the White Sox in this game.
Meanwhile, the Astros keep plugging away with an elite offense and rock-solid pitching. Houston has won by two or more runs in six of its last seven victories, which leads us to the following pick.
The Pick: Houston Astros Runline (-1.5) at +140 odds | PointsBet USA
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