White Sox vs Astros Wildcard Series Predictions & Best Bets

The six-month and 162-game wait is over – the MLB Playoffs are finally here! Twelve teams remain standing, while the other 18 are busy cleaning out their lockers. We kick things off with the Wild Card round, with all four series starting on Tuesday. Before all the action starts, here are your winning plays. Next, we move to the American League, with the Central Division’s Chicago White Sox meeting the West Division’s Houston Astros.

White Sox vs Astros Wildcard Series Predictions & Best Bets

#6 Chicago White Sox vs #3 Houston Astros

Game 1: Tuesday, 5:00 PM ET @ Houston

Game 2: Wednesday, 5:00 PM ET @ Chicago

Game 3: Thursday, 5:00 PM ET @ Houston

Yes, you read that correctly, and there was no typo – the Chicago White Sox are in the MLB Playoffs. After winning 41 games two seasons ago (and 60 last year), the White Sox took a huge leap up this season, winning 84 games (their most since 2021) and qualified for the fun time of the season. This made them the first team in history to make the playoffs after losing 100+ games in three consecutive seasons. However, they couldn’t hold on to the divisional lead, with the surging Cleveland Guardians nosing them out by a game.

So instead of a bye, Chicago finds themselves in the Wild Card round and on the road, facing the West-winning Houston Astros. However, this isn’t your father’s Houston Astros, as the club only went 81-81, the fourth straight season that their wins have decreased after peaking at 106 in 2022 when they last won the World Series. This makes the Astros record-breakers as well, just like the White Sox, as they are the only team in the sport’s history to make the playoffs with a .500 record or lower.

While the Astros get the home-field advantage by winning their division (despite winning fewer games than the White Sox), Houston hasn’t gotten the memo about the “advantage” part of home field. The Astros only went 39-42 playing at Daikin Park this season, tied for the eighth-worst home mark in the majors.

Perhaps you see where I’m headed with this – I’m going with the dog. Maybe it’s just because it would be a better story if the Chicago White Sox won the series, but I don’t think that’s it. Outside of MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez, Houston is a mediocre baseball team. And, as mentioned above, playing two out of three potential games at home isn’t doing them any favors. Let’s bet on chaos – let’s bet on the Sox to advance.

We might as well go all-in on the White Sox. Let’s also make a prop bet for Chicago’s Miguel Vargas, who had a breakout season this year, including hitting 33 homers, to homer at least once in the series and get another plus-money score.

Best Bets: Chicago to win series (+125); Miguel Vargas to homer in series (+135)

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