Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros 10/7/21 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The American League Division Series will start on Thursday night, when the Chicago White Sox invade Minute Maid Park to take on the Houston Astros. The White Sox (93-69) finished a game below .500 on the road and rank third in the majors in slugging percentage. All-Star 1B Jose Abreu leads Chicago with 30 home runs and 117 RBIs.

All-Star righty Lance Lynn (11-6 2.69 ERA) will take the mound for the White Sox in this matchup. In his only start versus Houston this season, Lynn was tagged for eight hits and six runs in just four innings.

The Houston Astros have won 51 of their 81 home games and rank fourth in the majors with a plus 205 run differential. All-Star 2B Jose Altuve (31 HR) remains the spark plug of a loaded lineup that features eight players that hit double digits home runs. DH Yordan Alvarez slugged a team-high 33 home runs and drove in 104 runs for the Astros.

Houston manager Dusty Baker will give the nod to twenty-eight year old righty Lance McCullers Jr. (13-5 3.16 ERA) on Wednesday. In two starts versus Chicago this season, McCullers has struck out 14 batters and allowed just four hits across 13 frames.