The Chicago White Sox battle the Houston Astros in 2023 MLB Opening Day action on Thursday. The White Sox, who finished 81-81 in 2022, placed second in the American League Central and missed the postseason, five games behind Tampa Bay for the final Wild Card. The Astros, who won the AL West with a 106-56 mark, have earned a spot in the postseason in each of the past six seasons and in seven of eight. During that stretch, Houston won the World Series twice -- 2017 and 2022 -- and was runner-up twice -- 2019 and 2021. Framber Valdez will start for Houston, while Dylan Cease will be on the hill for Chicago.
The game is slated to begin at 7:08 p.m. ET from Minute Maid Park in Houston. The White Sox had the fifth-best team batting average in MLB at .256 last year, while the Astros were 12th with a .248 average. Houston is a -135 favorite (risk $135 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 7.5. Before making any Astros vs. White Sox picks, be sure to check out the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It went 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks (+357) over the past two seasons, and it finished the 2022 MLB season on a 20-14 roll. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on White Sox vs. Astros and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Astros vs. White Sox:
- White Sox vs. Astros money line: Chicago +115, Houston -135
- White Sox vs. Astros over-under: 7.5 runs
- White Sox vs. Astros run line: Astros -1.5 (+150)
- CWS: The White Sox are 4-1 in their last five games against American League West opponents
- HOU: The Astros are 40-11 in their last 51 Thursday games
- White Sox vs. Astros picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Astros
After spending the last nine seasons with the White Sox, Jose Abreu moves over to Houston as its new first baseman. Abreu has been solid, batting .304 a year ago, with 40 doubles, 15 homers and 75 RBIs. He also drew 62 walks, while slugging .446. In 1,270 games in his career, Abreu is a .292 hitter with 243 homers and 863 RBI.
Also expected to help power Houston is right fielder Kyle Tucker. In 150 games a year ago, Tucker batted .257 with 28 doubles, one triple, 30 homers and 107 RBI. He also drew 59 walks and stole 25 bases. That number could go up further this season with the new pitch clock and bigger bases. Tucker tore up White Sox pitching in 2022, batting .357 in 28 at-bats, with three doubles, one homer and seven RBI.
Why you should back the White Sox
Chicago will send Cease to the hill, an Opening Day reward for a stellar season a year ago. In 2022, Cease led the White Sox with a 14-8 record in 32 starts, including 16 quality starts and a 2.20 ERA. In 184 innings, he allowed 126 hits, 45 earned runs, while walking 78 and striking out 227. Cease pitched well on the road, going 8-4 with a 2.00 ERA in 14 games.
Shortstop Tim Anderson is one of the White Sox's top returning offensive weapons. The two-time All-Star was limited to 79 games due to injuries last year, but hit .301, including 13 doubles, six homers and 25 RBI. Although he didn't face Houston last season, he hit .241 with a double, one triple, two homers and three RBI against the Astros in 2021. On the road in 2022, Anderson hit .296 with five doubles, four homers and 13 RBI.
How to make White Sox vs. Astros picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the run total and it says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the MLB model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins White Sox vs. Astros? And which side has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its MLB picks, and find out.
