Houston Astros vs Chicago White Sox Prediction, 8/18/2022 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Chicago White Sox

Date: Thursday, August 18, 2022

Location: Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL

TV: NBC Sports Chicago

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-130) Chicago (+110)

The Chicago White Sox (61-56) will compete against the Houston Astros (75-43) at Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday. The line on this contest has Houston at -130 and Chicago is opening at +110. The total has been set at 9. The expected starting pitchers are Luis Garcia and Lucas Giolito.

As a unit, the Houston Astros are recording 4.5 runs per contest, which has them sitting at 12th in MLB. They have racked up 530 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .318. The Astros have hit 206 doubles as a squad and have smacked 160 baseballs out of the stadium. They have recorded 515 RBI's in addition to 956 base knocks so far this season, and their team batting average is .244. Houston has a slugging percentage of .424 and have been called out on strikes 860 times, while taking a walk on 399 occasions.

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The Astros have compiled a team ERA of 3.04 for the season (2nd in baseball), and their staff has struck out 1,049 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 331 opposing hitters and their FIP sits at 3.45 as a team for the year. They have a K/BB ratio of 3.17 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.10. Astros pitchers have yielded 100 home runs in addition to 392 total runs (2nd in baseball).

The Astros have sent 340 relievers to the hill this year. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 117 base runners so far this year with 30.8% of those players ended up crossing the plate. They have recorded 34 saves so far this season and have blown 12 of their 46 save opportunities. The Astros relief pitchers have accumulated a save rate of 73.9% and has come into the game in 116 save situations. The relievers have notched 70 holds so far this season (9th in baseball). Astros relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on 77 times and also have had 110 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Houston Astros have a tally of 3,134 putouts for the season, in addition to 911 assists and 55 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .987 which has them sitting 10th in pro baseball, and they have turned 89 double plays. The Astros have turned 72.2% of balls in play into outs in their 9,402 innings, which has them ranked 3rd in baseball.

Garcia has taken the mound for 286 innings and has racked up 299 strikeouts during his MLB career. Garcia (20-17 career record) is the owner of a FIP of 3.78 and he has gone up against 1,166 opposing hitters in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.68 (117 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.150. He has conceded 239 hits (7.5 hits per nine innings) and has 90 free passes.

Chicago has recorded 101 HRs so far this season to go along with 474 runs batted in. They have tallied 198 doubles, while getting a free base 276 times and scoring 498 runs. The Chicago White Sox have a team on-base percentage of .313 in addition to a team batting average of .260 on the season. The White Sox have a team SLG% of .387 and they earn 4.26 runs per contest (19th in the league). They have been called out on strikes on 904 occasions (24th in the league) and have earned a total of 1,053 hits.

The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 509 runs for the season and come in with a team ERA of 3.86 (448 earned runs allowed). They have conceded 124 homers and they surrender 4.38 runs per 9 innings (18th in the league). The White Sox are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.311 with a FIP of 3.86 as a pitching staff on the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.65 (1,056 strikeouts against 398 walks). They are sitting at 21st in MLB as a staff in total hits surrendered with 972.

Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the mound in 53 save opportunities and they have earned 37 saves. They sit at 11th in MLB with a save rate of 69.8%, and they have dispatched 396 relief pitchers onto the diamond over the course of the season. Their bullpen pitchers have taken the field 120 times in high leverage situations in addition to 95 occasions with runners on. Chicago relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 38.3% out of their 133 inherited runners. Sitting with 135 save situations, the White Sox have 81 holds and 16 blown saves.

Out of their 9,405 innings on the field, the White Sox have accumulated a efficiency on defense of 68.5% (23rd in pro baseball). The Chicago White Sox have gotten 93 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .983 (27th in pro baseball). The White Sox have recorded 946 assists, 72 errors and have earned a total of 3,135 putouts so far this year.

During his pro baseball career, Giolito has conceded 672 base hits while accumulating 823 strikeouts in 781 innings pitched. He has conceded 373 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.237 and having a FIP of 4.3. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.80 and he has gone up against 3,260 hitters so far in his MLB career. Giolito (51-44 career record) has earned a 4.30 ERA and has conceded 7.7 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Chicago (+110) and under 9 runs

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