Houston Astros vs Chicago White Sox Prediction, 7/18/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Chicago White Sox

Date: Sunday, July 18, 2021

Location: Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL

TV: NBC Sports Chicago

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-105) Chicago (-107)

Guaranteed Rate Field is the site where Carlos Rodon and the Chicago White Sox (54-36, 1st in AL Central) will play the Houston Astros (56-36, 1st in AL West) on Sunday. The White Sox open this contest at -107 while the Astros are coming in at -105. The total has been set at 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound are Framber Valdez and Carlos Rodon.

As a team, the Houston Astros are putting up 5.5 runs per outing, which has them at 1st in MLB. They have racked up 503 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .344. The Astros have recorded 171 doubles as a team and have hit 117 balls out of the park. They have accrued 482 runs batted in in addition to 848 base knocks this year, and their average at the plate comes in at .269. Houston is slugging .438 and have been called out on strikes 684 times, while drawing a walk on 342 occasions.

Get all of our MLB Betting Picks

Astros pitchers have allowed 104 home runs in addition to 361 runs in total (7th in MLB). Their pitching staff has walked 303 batters and their FIP sits at 4.03 as a team on the year. Their K/BB ratio is 2.74 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.19. The Astros are sitting with a team earned run average of 3.57 this season (8th in the league), and the staff has rung up 830 hitters.

Astros bullpen pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on base 77 times and also have had 89 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have tallied 39 holds on the season (20th in the league). The Astros relief pitchers have accumulated a save rate of 60.0% and has entered the game in 75 save situations. They have earned 21 saves so far this season and have blown 14 out of their 35 chances to save the game. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 117 runners on the year with 40.2% of them earned a run for their team. The Astros have sent 274 relief pitchers to the mound for the season.

The Houston Astros have accumulated 2,466 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 777 assists and 39 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .988 which ranks 1st in pro baseball, and have 681 double plays. The Astros have transformed 72.2% of balls in play into outs in their 7,398 innings on the diamond, which has them ranked 1st in pro baseball.

Valdez has pitched in 232 frames and has racked up 230 strikeouts during his pro baseball career. His ERA is 3.91 (101 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.350. He has given up 208 base knocks (8.0 hits per 9 innings) and has 106 walks. Valdez (18-12 career win-loss record) has a FIP of 4.01 while facing 1,003 opposing batters in the major leagues.

The White Sox have a team SLG% of .415 and they tally 5.08 runs per contest (5th in MLB). They have put up 156 two-baggers, while walking 345 times as well as recording 457 runs. Chicago has accounted for 92 HRs on the campaign to go along with 429 RBIs. They have struck out on 798 occasions (17th in MLB) and have a total of 754 base knocks. The Chicago White Sox have accumulated an OBP of .339 as well as a batting average of .256 on the year.

The White Sox hold a team WHIP of 1.215 with a FIP of 3.69 as a squad for the year. They come in at 5th in MLB as a staff in total hits allowed with 669. The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 346 runs over the course of the season while holding a team ERA of 3.62 (312 earned runs allowed). Their strikeout to walk ratio is 3.29 (897 strikeouts against 273 walks). They have surrendered 99 home runs and they relinquish 4.02 runs per 9 innings (9th in baseball).

With 92 save situations, the White Sox have tallied 48 holds in addition to 15 blown saves. Chicago has called on relief pitchers to step onto the mound in 41 save opportunities and they have recorded 26 saves. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 85 times in high leverage situations and on 78 occasions with runners on base. Chicago relievers have an inherited score rate of 32.1% out of their 131 inherited runners. They sit at 13th in the league holding a save rate of 63.4%, and they have sent 268 relievers onto the field on the year.

In 6,981 innings on the field, the White Sox have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 68.9% (22nd in MLB). The Chicago White Sox have twisted 59 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .981 (27th in baseball). The White Sox have recorded 659 assists, 58 errors and have a tally of 2,327 putouts so far this year.

Rodon (36-36 mark in his career) has earned a 3.88 earned run average while surrendering 8.2 hits per nine innings. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.55 and he has gone up against 2,683 hitters thus far in his career. He has allowed a total of 270 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.319 and having a FIP of 4.0. So far in his pro baseball career, Rodon has allowed 569 hits while earning 655 punch outs in 626 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's MLB game ATS?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Chicago (-107)

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