Chicago White Sox vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Astros Looking to Sweep White Sox in Dominant Weekend Series

The Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox are set to conclude their weekend series on Sunday, Aug. 18. The two teams are experiencing contrasting seasons, with the White Sox being the worst team in the league with a record of 30-94 while the Astros lead the American League West division with a record of 66-56. Sunday's game, beginning at 2:10 P.M. EST, will feature starting pitchers Ky Bush for the White Sox and Framber Valdez for the Astros. Houston is the betting favorite with the current line at Houston -345.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: White Sox +288 | Astros -345
• Spread: White Sox +1.5 (+141) | Astros -1.5 (-164)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 78%.

Chicago vs Houston Stats

Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox are currently ranked as the worst team in Major League Baseball with a record of 30-94. They are 15 games behind the second worst team in the league, the Rockies. The White Sox have struggled significantly since the All-Star break, going 3-23 in that time period. In their most recent game against the Astros, they lost 6-1 with Gavin Sheets hitting the only run for Chicago. Pitcher Chris Flexen expressed frustration with not being able to perform consistently well. The team will be starting Ky Bush, who has only started two games this season and has had mixed results. Chicago's offensive struggles are evident in their statistics, with the second worst batting average in the league at .220. Their overall performance has resulted in a power ranking of 30, with poor offensive and defensive numbers.

Houston Astros Analysis

The Houston Astros are currently leading the American League West division with a record of 66-56. They are ahead of the Mariners by four games in their division and six games behind the Yankees in the American League. The Astros have won nine of their last 10 games and are performing well offensively, ranking third in the sport with a .261 batting average. In their last game, they defeated the White Sox 6-1, with Jose Altuve leading the team with two RBIs and two hits. Pitcher Hunter Brown pitched an impressive game by only allowing one run and four hits while striking out six batters. Framber Valdez, who has a 12-5 record this season with a 3.38 ERA, will start for the Astros next. The team has won all nine games that Valdez has started. Overall, the Astros have a power ranking of 11 and are ranked 13th for offense, averaging 4.60 runs per game. Against left-handed pitchers, the Astros are hitting .261 while maintaining a .251 average this month. With a solid defense and strong offensive performance, the Astros are a force to be reckoned with in the league.

Astros Favored to Beat White Sox with Valdez on the Mound

For a straightforward wager, consider backing the Astros over the White Sox. The White Sox have performed poorly this season, sporting a lackluster record against the spread of 53-71 due to their struggles on both offense and defense. Their batting average against the American League West division is a measly .200, while the Astros have shown strong offensive prowess with a .290 average against the White Sox. With Framber Valdez on the mound for the Astros, who boasts an impressive post-All-Star break ERA of 2.51, Chicago is unlikely to score many runs. The Astros have convincingly won all nine games that Valdez has started, with eight of those victories coming by more than one run. Considering these factors, it appears that the Astros are well-positioned to cover the spread on Sunday.

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