We’ve officially passed the end of August and are into September, meaning the MLB’s postseason race is coming down to the wire. The American League is much less competitive than usual this year, but division leaders are division leaders. Tonight, the Houston Astros face the Chicago White Sox again after opening this series with a win at Daikin Park last night. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 8:10 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive in with a preview, prediction and pick for tonight’s White Sox vs. Astros game courtesy of odds and lines on DraftKings Sportsbook.
White Sox vs. Astros prediction, preview
The White Sox are atop the AL Central as they’ve been for much of the season, sitting 72-65 on the year with a +41 run differential. They’ve dropped two straight games now, but remain 6-4 over their last 10; a 31-38 away record isn’t great, though. The Astros are hardly above .500 at 70-68, but it’s enough to protect a slim AL West lead even despite a -40 differential on the year. They’re also 34-25 at home this season.
RHP Sean Burke (7-6) starts for Chicago this evening. He’s been one of this club’s best arms, amassing a 3.32 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across his 149.0 IP. His K% clocks in at 26.3% after punching out 161 hitters, and his BB% is 8.2%. Burke’s ground-ball rate is very low in the 12th percentile, but he does plenty well and has been steady throughout the year.
For Houston, RHP Ronel Blanco (0-1) gets the nod after returning from Tommy John surgery five games ago. He’s thrown 23.1 innings with a whopping 7.71 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP, far from what this club hoped for in his comeback. He does have 20 strikeouts for a 19.8% K%, but his BB% sits at 11.9% as well.
These offenses have both been quite solid over the season’s second half. Since the All-Star break, the White Sox are seventh in wRC+, 13th in OPS (.718) and sixth in total runs scored (201). They also have a .167 ISO and are one of the better power teams in the sport, though a 24.1% K% is seventh highest. On the full campaign, they slash .237/.318/.404 with a .722 OPS.
The Astros aren’t too far behind in production in the second half – they’re 10th in wRC+, 12th in OPS (.719) and 12th in total runs (181). They’re also still among the better teams in terms of hitting for power with a .162 ISO, hitting 51 homers to the White Sox’s 52. The overall number against right-handers does look good, slashing .242/.317/.413 with a .730 OPS on the year.
White Sox vs. Astros pick, best bet
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the White Sox as a -111 Moneyline favorite on the road this evening, with the Astros in play as a -108 underdog at home. The total is set at 8.5 combined runs.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Chicago is the team to take tonight. There’s something to be said about working your way back from Tommy John surgery, but Blanco has been straight-up bad since returning at the end of July. He’s lasted no more than 5.1 innings in any outing and has stayed at 4.2 or fewer in four of his five appearances, allowing at least three earned runs and one home run in every single contest. He brings an 11.8% barrel rate into this one and has been shelled for the most part, which the White Sox offense should take advantage of. They’re averaging 4.79 runs per game since the break, so I like this lineup to do some work.
