It's another getaway day around the major leagues on Thursday, so we have three matinees. I will focus on the last of them at 2:10 p.m. ET as the Chicago White Sox conclude a series in Houston.
It definitely could have American League playoff seeding ramifications, with both currently leading their respective divisions. Bet $5+ on any of Thursday's games and get $200 in bonus bets when you bet at DraftKings Sportsbook: Fans can try MLB betting on the best sports betting apps and get bonuses. The SportsLine Projection Model also has picks on games like White Sox-Astros from its 10,000 simulations, and our experts also offer insights on games every day.
DraftKings SGP price: +140 (subject to change) The AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays (83-56) have a 3.5-game cushion atop the entire Junior Circuit, and it would take a massive collapse for them to blow that. They're too well-managed for that to happen, and the Rays are -370 to be the top seed. The Central-leading White Sox and West-leading Astros, meanwhile, are battling for the No. 2, which would mean a first-round bye instead of hosting the No. 6 seed in a Wild-Card Round series.
Chicago (73-66) holds a 2.5-game lead over Houston (71-69), with the Astros clinching the season series and that potentially valuable tiebreaker thanks to Wednesday night's 2-0 victory. But the White Sox are still -210 for that No. 2 (were -600 yesterday) and the Astros +380 (were +600). Houston still has a fight just to win the AL West on its hands.
I expect the Pale Hose to hang on in the AL Central and earn the No. 2 because they have the third-easiest remaining schedule by opponents' combined winning percentage. A series against Cleveland is their only one remaining against a team that currently has a winning record. The Astros are middle of the pack in terms of remaining slate.
They are +105 favorites to be the third seed, with Chicago at +450. Place your White Sox-Astros wagers and get up to $1,500 in bonus bets back at BetMGM Sportsbook:: White Sox penny-pinching owner Jerry Reinsdorf, in a rarity, agreed to take on a big contract at the trade deadline when his team acquired starting pitcher Luis Castillo from Seattle, but it only really cost money (he's owed about $24 million next year) because the prospects sent out were lower-tier guys. Castillo was struggling with the M's and that has continued with his new club at 1-1 with a 6.45 ERA in five starts.
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