Astros vs. White Sox Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 6/18/2022

The Houston Astros (40-24), led by Yuli Gurriel on a two-game home run streak, are -227 favorites on the moneyline to defeat the Chicago White Sox (30-32). First pitch is set for 4:10 PM ET Saturday, live from Minute Maid Park. Justin Verlander will get the ball for Houston while Chicago counter with Johnny Cueto.

Astros vs. White Sox Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. White Sox

Our computer pick: Chicago White Sox (+189) and Over (8)

Astros vs. White Sox Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Justin Verlander
• Chicago White Sox probable starting pitcher: Johnny Cueto
• Game Day: Saturday, June 18, 2022
• Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros vs Chicago White Sox Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Justin Verlander

• Verlander gets the start for the Astros, his 13th of the season. He is 8-2 with a 1.94 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings pitched.
• His most recent time out came on Sunday against the Miami Marlins, when the righty tossed 7 2/3 innings, surrendering no earned runs while giving up three hits.
• The 39-year-old has amassed an ERA of 1.94, with 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings, in 12 games this season. Opposing hitters have a .177 batting average against him.
• Verlander is trying to prolong a third-game quality start streak in this outing.
• Verlander is aiming for his 13th straight outing lasting five or more innings. He averages 6.2 innings per appearance on the mound.
• The opposing White Sox offense has a collective .250 batting average, and is 11th in the league with 537 total hits and 26th in MLB play with 257 runs scored. It has the 24th-ranked slugging percentage (.378) and ranks 23rd in home runs (55) in all of MLB.
• Among pitchers who qualify in MLB play this season, the 39-year-old ranks sixth in ERA (1.94), first in WHIP (.814), and 27th in K/9 (8.9).

White Sox Starter Johnny Cueto

• Cueto (0-3) will take the mound for the White Sox, his sixth start of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched on Sunday against the Texas Rangers, throwing 5 2/3 innings of relief while giving up three earned runs and allowing six hits.
• The 36-year-old has pitched in six games this season with an ERA of 3.53 and 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings, with an opponent batting average of .250.
• In five starts this season, he’s earned a quality start in four of them.
• Cueto has six starts in a row of five innings or more.
• The Astros rank 17th in MLB with a .239 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks sixth in the league (.415) and 85 home runs.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have won 36, or 66.7%, of the 54 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Houston has a record of 8-1, a 88.9% win rate, when favored by -227 or more by oddsmakers this season.
• The moneyline for this contest implies a 69.4% chance of a victory for the Astros.
• Houston and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 21 of their 64 opportunities.
• In 64 games with a spread this season, the Astros are 31-33-0 ATS.

White Sox Betting Picks & Insights

• The White Sox have won in nine, or 34.6%, of the 26 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
• Oddsmakers have given Chicago the worst odds of winning they have seen this season with a +189 moneyline listed for this contest.
• Sportsbooks have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the White Sox have a 34.6% chance of pulling out a win.
• Contests with Chicago have gone over the total set by bookmakers in 31 of 66 chances this season.
• In 66 games with a line this season, the White Sox have a mark of 30-36-0 against the spread.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Not only does Yordan Alvarez lead the Astros in hitting with his .316 average, he also is their premier power option with 18 home runs and 47 RBI.
• Of all hitters in baseball, Alvarez is fourth in homers and ninth in RBI.
• Alvarez brings a hitting streak of two games into this matchup. In his last five games he is hitting .471 with two doubles, a home run, two walks and eight RBI.
• Kyle Tucker is batting .264 with nine doubles, 13 home runs and 31 walks.
• Tucker is 20th in home runs in the majors, and 19th in RBI.
• Tucker enters this matchup looking for his 16th game in a row with a hit. In his last 10 outings he is hitting .342 with two doubles, four home runs, four walks and 10 RBI.
• Alex Bregman has 14 doubles, seven home runs and 38 walks while hitting .216.
• Michael Brantley is hitting .297 with 12 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 28 walks.
• Brantley has recorded at least one hit in 12 straight games. In his last 10 games he is batting .410 with two doubles, two home runs, five walks and eight RBI.

White Sox Leaders & Batting Stats

• Jose Abreu leads the White Sox with nine home runs and runs batted in, driving in 30.
• Abreu ranks 51st in homers and 72nd in RBI among all batters in MLB.
• Luis Robert’s .282 batting average leads his team.
• Robert is 108th overall in home runs and 126th in RBI this year.
• Andrew Vaughn has nine doubles, six home runs and 13 walks while batting .308.
• A.J. Pollock has 11 doubles, four home runs and eight walks while batting .262.

Betting Tips for Astros vs. White Sox

Our best bet is the White Sox on the moneyline at +189 after looking at all of the key trends and stats for this matchup. Our computer projects the total score will over the total of 8 runs.