Astros vs. White Sox MLB: ALDS Game 4

The Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox weren’t able to play Game 4 of their American League Division Series on Monday due to weather in the Windy City, but it should be all clear when they try again Tuesday afternoon as Houston looks to advance to the ALCS with a victory. Let’s take a look at how the Astros vs. White Sox teams are performing so you can place your MLB bets.

How to Bet Astros at White Sox MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 2:07 PM ET
Where: Guaranteed Rate Field
Probable pitchers (away/home): Lance McCullers Jr./Carlos Rodon
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: White Sox -115, Astros +105 (total 8.5)

Why Bet on Houston?

This marks the Astros’ 13th all-time appearance in the Division Series, going 6-6 in those previous 12.

Houston’s first chance to clinch was Sunday but the Astros blew an early 5-1 lead in Chicago and lost 12-6. Kyle Tucker went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI. He knocked in two runs against Dylan Cease with a double in the second inning before adding a two-run homer off Michael Kopech in the third. Through the first three games of the ALDS, Tucker has been one of Houston’s most productive hitters with a pair of home runs and seven RBI.

Outfielder Michael Brantley has hit safely in 14 straight postseason games, dating back to Game 1 of the 2020 ALDS, a streak that ties as the longest postseason streak in franchise history. George Springer also had a 14-game run in 2017-18. Jose Altuve’s 11-game playoff hit streak ended in Game 3. Altuve, who scored a career high 117 runs this season, has scored five runs this series and 54 in his postseason career, which ranks eighth in MLB history.

The Game 4 starter for Houston was going to be Jose Urquidy if it had gone off as scheduled Monday. The right-hander was solid in his 107 innings last year with a 3.62 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. However, Manager Dusty Baker has opted to go with ace Lance McCullers.

In Game 1 of this series, he didn’t give up a run in 6 2/3 innings of work to pick up the win. McCullers allowed just four hits and didn’t walk anyone. He only struck out four, but there was very little hard contact, and the 28-year-old had the White Sox hitters off-balance throughout the outing.

McCullers is coming off his best season as a pro this year, reaching career highs in wins (13), starts (28), innings (162.1) and strikeouts (185), while also posting the best ERA (3.16) and opponent batting average (.205) of his career. Among qualifying AL pitchers, McCullers finished his season ranking first in opponent batting average (.205), first in opponent OPS (.628) and second in ERA (3.16).

Why Bet on Chicago?

The White Sox bat exploded in Game 3 with those 12 runs in extending their season at least one more game. It was Chicago’s first playoff game at home since Game 3 of the 2008 ALDS vs. the Rays. Yasmani Grandal homered and drove in three runs. Grandal drew the White Sox within 5-3 with a two-run shot off Luis Garcia in the third inning. It was Grandal’s sixth career playoff homer and third with the White Sox.

Leury García blasted a go-ahead three-run homer Sunday. Garcia actually began his at-bat against Luis Garcia in the third inning before Dusty Baker brought in Yimi Garcia. The decision quickly blew up in his face, as García launched a 436-foot blast to the batter’s eye in center field. García truly blew things open with an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth.

Tim Anderson went 3-for-6 with two runs and an RBI. Anderson has done his part to spark the White Sox at the top of the order through the first three games of the series, going 7-for-15 while crossing home four times. He’s on a nine-game hitting streak.

Lefty Carlos Rodon was scheduled to pitch Game 4 on Monday and will go here. It will be Rodon’s second career playoff appearance. He allowed two runs on one hit with two walks over 0.0 IP in Game 3 of the 2020 Wild Card Series at Oakland.

Late this year, Rodon battled through shoulder soreness and fatigue, limiting him to two starts since Sept. 10 and no start of more than five innings or 89 pitches since July 18. On that night, Rodón struck out 10 at home against Houston and held the Astros to one hit over seven innings. Overall this year, he was arguably their top starter with a 2.37 ERA and 185 strikeouts over 132 2/3 innings. Rodon pitched 42 1/3 innings combined over the previous two seasons due to injury.

Lance Lynn, who started Game 1, would have been available on regular rest Tuesday but instead could be used as a backup behind Rodon. Hard-throwing reliever Michael Kopech will not be available for Tuesday’s Game 4. The right-hander threw 47 pitches and 2 1/3 innings on Sunday in Chicago’s victory, and should be available for multiple innings if the White Sox are able to force a Game 5.