The Chicago White Sox will play the Houston Astros on Saturday at Minute Maid Park. First pitch from Houston is at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Astros are -160 moneyline favorites (-1.5 RL +125) and the total is nine runs scored.
Chicago took down Houston in the first game of the series by a score of 3-2. The White Sox trailed 1-0 after seven innings but tied it in the eighth and scored two runs in the ninth to secure the Opening Day victory. Dylan Cease contributed 6.1 innings of superb pitching for Chicago, giving up two hits and one run with ten strikeouts. Kendall Graveman earned the win and Ryan Pressly picked up the loss.
The Southsiders will start Lucas Giolito on Saturday. The 28-year-old right-hander was 11-9 with a 4.90 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and 177 strikeouts in 30 starts last season. Giolito is 2-5 with a 6.21 ERA in seven career appearances versus Houston. He lost both of his starts last season against the 'Stros.
Houston will counter with José Urquidy in game three of the season-opening series. The 27-year-old went 13-8 with a 3.94 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and 134 strikeouts in 29 appearances (28 starts) last season. Urquidy is 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA and 9 strikeouts in two career starts versus Chicago.
Chicago spoiled Houston's victory parade on Opening Day, upsetting the defending World Series champions as +125 underdogs. The Southsiders will look to pull off another stunner on Friday night with Lance Lynn on the mound in game two.
Saturday's game features another intriguing pitching matchup, as Lucas Giolito and José Urquidy will face off. Giolito was rocked for eight runs in his June 17 start of last season and gave up another seven runs in his August 18 start. His previous two starts, though, were gems. On May 23 of 2019, he pitched a complete game shutout of Houston, and he was almost as brilliant on July 17 of 2021, holding the Astros to three hits and one run in another complete game victory. He also tallied 17 strikeouts across those two outings.
Yasmani Grandal sends that one out of here. pic.twitter.com/MscQFKobUK< /p>— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 31, 2023
Chicago's lineup hasn't faced Urquidy much but the White Sox proved they aren't afraid of the moment on Thursday, beating Houston with patience and pop. After Dylan Cease gave up his first and only run in the seventh inning, Yasmani Grandal tied the game with a solo homer in the eighth and Andrew Vaughn put the Sox ahead with a two-run double in the ninth. If it falls behind again on Saturday, don't write off Chicago.
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