Astros vs. White Sox (August 16): AL Cy Young favorites face off in Chicago

We have a real treat to look forward to in tonight’s Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox matchup as the top two AL Cy Young Award favorites will take center stage at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Houston’s Justin Verlander and Chicago’s Dylan Cease are 1-2 with a month and a half remaining in the MLB regular season, and while tonight’s game certainly won’t be decisive in the AL Cy Young race, a shift in the odds could very well occur based on which pitcher outdoes the other.

Excellent pitching was on display in last night’s series opener, with Johnny Cueto (8 IP, 6 H, 2 R) and the White Sox getting a huge win over Jose Urquidy (7.2 IP, 6 H, R) and the Astros thanks to four two-out runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Will pitching dominate again tonight in the Windy City?

Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Houston Astros (75-42, 36-24 away, 1st in the AL West) vs. Chicago White Sox (60-56, 29-29 home, t-2nd in the AL Central)
• Venue & Location: Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago, Illinois)
• Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2022
• Game Time: 8:10 p.m. Eastern Time (7:10 p.m. local time)

Astros vs. White Sox Pitching Matchup

• Houston Astros: Justin Verlander (2022: 21 starts, 15-3, 1.85 ERA)
• Chicago White Sox: Dylan Cease (2022: 23 starts, 12-5, 1.96 ERA)

Astros vs. White Sox Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. Odds from other top legal sportsbooks may also be included in this article.

Moneyline

• Houston Astros -130
• Chicago White Sox +110

Over/Under

• Over 7 (-108)
• Under 7 (-112)

Run Line

• Houston Astros -1.5 (+134)
• Chicago White Sox +1.5 (-162)

Which Amazing Arm Will Have the Upper Hand in Chicago?

Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan, who was once the AL Cy Young favorite, got back in the win column on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.

But for at least the time being, there is a bit of a gap from McClanahan to the two talented hurlers that will be at the center of this matchup in Chicago.

Verlander enters tonight’s matchup as a -125 favorite at BetOnline, while Cease comes in at +165.

The 39-year-old leads the majors in wins, ERA, and WHIP (0.86), and he ranks fourth in OBA (.190).

2022 Splits for Justin Verlander

• Home (10 starts): 7-1, 2.18 ERA
• Away (11 starts): 8-2, 1.58 ERA
• Day (10 starts): 8-1, 1.71 ERA
• Night (11 starts): 7-2, 1.98 ERA

As it stands, Verlander is on course to have an OBA under .200 for just the third full season in his career. In the previous two instances, 2011 and 2019, he took home AL Cy Young honors.

Cease doesn’t rank as well across the board, but he is third in strikeouts (174), fifth in OBA (.196), and WAR (4.4).

2022 Season Splits for Dylan Cease

• Home (12 starts): 5-3, 2.50 ERA
• Away (11 starts): 7-2, 1.34 ERA
• Day (15 starts): 8-3, 1.24 ERA
• Night (8 starts): 4-3, 3.48 ERA

Maintaining consistent success is key when it comes to these awards, and both Verlander and Cease are ticking that box.

In eight starts since he and the Astros were roughed up by the White Sox in Houston on June 18, Verlander is 7-0 with a 1.17 ERA and eight consecutive quality starts.

In that stretch, he has allowed just eight runs (seven earned), 35 hits, and nine walks and struck out 53 in 53.2 innings.

Cease, meanwhile, is 8-2 with a 0.82 ERA and eight quality starts in his last 11 starts.

In 65.2 innings, he has allowed seven runs (six earned), 41 hits, and 22 walks and struck out 85.

Also, he has not allowed more than one earned run in any of his last 14 starts. And he has allowed more than one earned run only four times in his 23 starts. That is an area in which he has the edge over Verlander, who has allowed two or more earned runs six times in his 21 starts.

Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction and Picks

Astros vs. White Sox Prediction: White Sox to win

Astros vs. White Sox Picks: White Sox ML (Best Value: +110 at BetOnline & BetUS)

Cease’s home and nighttime numbers are inferior to his away and day numbers, but since getting lit up by the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in consecutive home starts in May, he is 3-2 with a 0.63 ERA in seven home starts and 3-1 with a 0.63 in five nighttime starts.

Last Seven Home Starts for Dylan Cease: 42.2 IP, 27 H, 10 R (3 ER), 15 BB, 55 K

Last Five Night Starts for Dylan Cease: 28.2 IP, 18 H, 3 R (2 ER), 12 BB, 41 K

The Astros are a pretty formidable 29-12 (.707) following a loss this season, which ranks second behind the New York Mets (31-9, .775). And the White Sox are just 29-30 (.492) after a win and 5-8 (.385) as a home underdog this season.

But if you have been here before, you know how much I have backed the White Sox even when they have been up and down or just plain down.

And with them on a four-game win streak and with their best pitcher on the mound, you know I can’t help myself, even if the AL’s best team and best pitcher happen to be the opposition tonight.

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