The Houston Astros blew out the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, 6-1, and look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Friday afternoon, the first of a four MLB postseason matchups overall on a busy Friday. The Astros are in their fifth straight postseason and have been money in home divisional round games, winning nine of their past 10. The White Sox have lost three straight playoff games dating to 2020. Chicago's Lucas Giolito will be opposed by Houston's Framber Valdez.
Houston is listed as a -115 favorite (risk $115 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 eight. Before making any Astros vs. White Sox picks or predictions, you need to see what SportsLine MLB expert Matt Severance has to say.
Severance, SportsLine's breaking news writer, multi-sport handicapper and an Early Edge podcast regular, is 148-107 in his past 255 MLB picks, returning nearly $2,400. Severance is 34-14 on his last 48 picks involving White Sox games, returning approximately $1,700. He faded Chicago in Game 1, with the Sox losing 6-1. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, Severance has dialed in on White Sox vs. Astros and just released his coveted 2021 ALDS Game 2 picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see all of Severance's picks. Here are the MLB odds and betting lines for Astros vs. White Sox Game 2:
- White Sox vs. Astros money line: Houston -115, Chicago +105
- White Sox vs. Astros over-under: 8 runs
- White Sox vs. Astros run line: Houston -1.5 (+160)
- CHI: White Sox are 4-0 in their past four Friday games
- HOU: Astros are 37-17 in their last 54 home games vs. a team with a winning record
Why you should back the White Sox
In retrospect, it appears the White Sox manager Tony La Russa made a mistake going with veteran Lance Lynn over Lucas Giolito (11-9, 3.53) in Game 1. Lynn had won just one of his final 10 regular-season starts and had not been quite the same pitcher overall in the second half of the season. Meanwhile, over his final nine starts, Giolito was 3-1 with a 2.36 ERA over 49.2 innings with 56 strikeouts and a .192 opponents' batting average. He didn't allow more than three runs in any of those.
While Lynn also was rocked in his lone regular-season start vs. Houston, Giolito dominated the Astros on July 17 in Chicago, throwing a complete game and allowing one hit and three runs with eight strikeouts and no walks. His game score of 85.0 was a season best. Giolito has made one career playoff start, and he overwhelmed the A's in Oakland last year in allowing one run and two hits over seven - that was Chicago's last playoff victory. The White Sox generally hit lefties better and face one Friday.
Why you should back the Astros
Houston manager Dusty Baker has to be thrilled with how Game 1 went as Lance McCullers went 6.2 innings and with the game out of hand, Baker didn't have to use any of his high-leverage relievers. The Astros are now 5-0 vs. the White Sox in 2021 at Minute Maid Park and start another terrific pitcher Friday in lefty Framber Valdez, who was 11-6 with a 3.14 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 125 strikeouts in 134.2 innings this season. He got a late start due to a fractured finger in spring training.
Not clear as of this writing whether the roof will be open or closed Friday, but Valdez was even better in day games with a 2.51 ERA in seven starts compared to a 3.44 ERA at night. Valdez lost to the White Sox in Chicago this season but beat the Sox in Houston, allowing two earned over seven. Valdez's four career postseason appearances all came in 2020 and he was 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in 24.0 innings. He allowed just 14 hits and struck out 26.
How to make White Sox vs. Astros picks
Severance is leaning under on the run total and has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the money line. He's only sharing that Astros vs. White Sox pick at SportsLine.
So who wins White Sox vs. Astros in the 2021 ALDS Game 2? And what critical X-factor makes one side of the money line a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the money line to jump on, all from the MLB expert who has a 34-14 record in his past 48 picks involving the White Sox, and find out.
