Chicago White Sox vs Houston Astros Prediction, 8/18/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago White Sox vs Houston Astros

Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: Space City Home Network

The Chicago White Sox (29-93) are en route to Minute Maid Park on Sunday where they will meet the Houston Astros (65-55). The starting pitchers will be Ky Bush and Framber Valdez.

As a team, the Chicago White Sox are putting up 3.1 runs per outing, which puts them at 30th in the league. They have earned 382 runs and have an on-base percentage of .278. The White Sox have earned 190 doubles as a squad and have smacked 104 balls out of the park. They have 363 runs batted in in addition to 887 base knocks for the year, and their batting average comes in at .220. Chicago is slugging .347 and have struck out 1,062 times, while being walked on 298 occasions.

Get all of our Free MLB Picks

They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.05 and their pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.43. White Sox pitchers have given up 160 long balls and 634 runs in total (29th in the league). Chicago has given up 1,044 hits (8.8 per 9 innings) and 575 earned runs. The White Sox have a team ERA of 4.85 over the course of the season (29th in the league), and their staff has struck out 993 hitters. They have walked 485 players from the other team and their FIP is 4.74 as a squad over the course of the season.

White Sox pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on 138 times in addition to having 128 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen are sitting with 56 holds on the campaign (23rd in baseball). The White Sox relief pitchers have a save rate of 36.2% and has come into the game in 104 save situations. They have earned 17 saves this season and have blown 30 out of their 47 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 213 base runners on the campaign with 34.3% of those players crossed home plate. The White Sox have sent 397 relievers to the hill for the season.

The White Sox have converted 69.3% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 9,609 innings on the field, which has them sitting 21st in the majors. The Chicago White Sox have 3,203 putouts for the season, as well as 963 assists and 71 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .983 which ranks 25th in the majors, and they have turned 75 double plays.

Bush (0-1 win-loss mark in his career) has a FIP of 5.41 while he has faced 46 batters in the majors. He has surrendered 8 hits (8.8 hits per nine innings) with 12 walks. His ERA is 5.49 (5 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 2.439. Bush has pitched in 8 innings and has accumulated 5 strikeouts in his MLB career.

Houston has accumulated 142 home runs on the season as well as 529 RBIs. They have notched 196 doubles, while taking a walk 326 times as well as racking up 553 runs. The Houston Astros have recorded a team OBP of .320 in addition to a batting average of .260 for the season. The Astros have a team SLG% of .418 and they average 4.61 runs per game (13th in the league). They have been called out on strikes on 860 occasions (28th in baseball) and have 1,072 base hits.

The Astros hold a team WHIP of 1.263 and have a FIP of 4.15 as a unit for the season. Their K/BB ratio sits at 9.20 (1,094 strikeouts vs 428 bases on balls). They come in at 2nd in the league as a staff in total hits allowed with 920. They have surrendered 138 long balls and they allow 4.12 runs per 9 innings (7th in baseball). The Houston pitching staff have allowed 489 runs for the year while holding a team ERA of 3.87 (459 earned runs relinquished).

Houston relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 26.5% out of 102 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 116 times in high leverage situations and on 68 occasions with runners on base. Sitting with 123 save situations, the Astros have accrued 73 holds and also 18 blown saves. They rank 14th in MLB with a save percentage of 63.3%, and they have dispatched 383 relievers to the hill this year. Houston has called on relief pitchers to step onto the mound in 49 save opportunities and they have come away with 31 saves.

In their 9,603 innings on the field, the Astros have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 70.7% (7th in pro baseball). The Houston Astros have gotten 98 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .987 (5th in MLB). The Astros have 981 assists, 56 errors and are sitting with 3,201 putouts over the course of the season.

So far in his pro baseball career, Valdez has allowed 712 base hits while he has earned 819 strikeouts in 842 innings. He has surrendered a total of 318 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.211 and having a FIP of 3.3. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.66 and he has gone up against 3,505 hitters during his career. Valdez (65-39 mark in his career) has a 3.40 earned run average while giving up 7.6 hits per 9 innings.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Chicago

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here