White Sox vs Astros Game 2 Odds, Betting Lines, and Probable Pitchers

• The Houston Astros are -130 moneyline favorites over the Chicago White Sox in Game 2 of the ALDS on Friday (October 8th, 2:07 pm ET)
• Houston will give the ball to Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14 ERA), while Chicago will counter with Lucas Giolito (11-9, 3.53 ERA)
• Read below for odds, analysis and a betting prediction

Round 1 of the ALDS went to the Houston Astros in convincing fashion and now the 2017 champs will look to take a 2-0 series stranglehold on the Chicago White Sox on Friday (October 8th).

Houston took the opener 6-1 on the strength of 6.2 scoreless innings from Lance McCullers Jr., and are once again favored in Game 2.

White Sox vs Astros Game 2 Odds

Odds as of Oct. 7th at DraftKings.

The Astros opened up as -130 moneyline favorites, in a game that features a total of 8.5. First pitch is scheduled for 2:07 pm ET at Minute Maid Park, with another picture perfect day on deck. The forecast is calling for sunshine, clear skies and 89 degree temperatures.

Probable Pitchers

McCullers and three Houston relievers combined to hold Chicago to one run and seven hits in the opener. On Friday, Framber Valdez will look to replicate that type of performance. The 27-year-old will make his fourth career playoff start, after faring quite well in his first three.

Valdez owns a career 3-1 playoff record in four appearances, with a 1.88 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. He’s surrendered two runs or less in each postseason start, and just wrapped up the best season of his four year career.

Framber Valdez, Filthy 78mph Curveball. 😷 pic.twitter.com/NTGW3u1LAe

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 25, 2021

He set personal bests in innings pitched, WAR and strikeouts, and ended the campaign by yielding one run or less in two of his final three starts. Valdez faced the White Sox twice in 2021 with mixed results. He tossed 7 innings of two run ball back in June en route to victory, but allowed four runs over 6.1 innings in a 4-0 shutout loss a month later.

Giolito vs Valdez

Chicago will counter with Lucas Giolito, who was simply phenomenal over the last two months of the regular season. The righty surrendered two runs or less in eight of his final nine starts, and finished as a top-five Cy Young Award candidate.

Lucas Giolito's ERA in the second half is 2.71. In last eight starts, 2.42 with 53 strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/2BY4bZDEiz

— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) September 26, 2021

This will mark just his second career playoff start, with the first being an absolute gem. Last postseason versus Oakland, he tossed 7 innings of one run ball, allowing only two hits.

Speaking of gems, each of his last two starts against the Astros would fall under that category as well. Earlier this season, he threw a complete game versus Houston, scattering three hits and yielding a single run in a 10-1 victory. Not to be outdone, back in 2019 he threw a complete game shutout at Minute Maid Park, scattering four hits while striking out nine.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

Giolito has owned some of Houston’s top hitters over his career, with Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, Carlos Correa, and Yuli Gurriel all hitting .200 or worse against him.

White Sox vs Astros

Playoff baseball breeds low scores. Thursday’s matchup between these two teams fell under the total and this contest shapes up as a low scoring affair as well. Both Valdez and Giolito are in exceptional form, with strong track records against their Friday opposition.

Dating back to last year’s postseason, seven of Houston’s last eight playoff games have produced fewer than eight runs. Chicago meanwhile, has seen eight of its past 11 contests dating back to the regular season fall under nine runs, as well as three of its past four playoff games.

Under 8.5 is the play.

Pick: Under 8.5 (-135)