Red Sox vs White Sox Betting: Predictions and Analysis
Nightmare Season Continues For White Sox
For the Chicago White Sox and their fans, the fact that there are 100 games left in the 2024 season feels more like torture than anything else at this point. After blowing late leads to the cross-city rival Cubs this week, the White Sox have now lost 13 games in a row and are 3-19 in their last 22 games. The next team fortunate enough to take on Chicago is the Boston Red Sox who head to the Windy City for a four-game series. As you’d expect, the Red Sox vs White Sox betting lines heavily favor Boston as -215 moneyline favorites and -125 runline favorites by 1.5 runs. The total is an even eight runs.
The White Sox should have won both of their games against the Cubs, but a shaky bullpen — one of the worst in the Majors — couldn’t get through the 7th (on Tuesday) or 8th and 9th (on Wednesday) to secure victories. Those types of losses are extremely disheartening for a team that has enough trouble even getting a lead in the first place. Whether it’s the pitching or offense or even defense, the White Sox can’t get out of their own way as they’re way down at the bottom of any MLB rankings.
Boston continues to be as evenly mediocre a team as possible. The Red Sox have mostly hovered around .500 all season all season and are back there now after splitting a two-game series with the Braves. It’s almost a miracle that Boston has continued to be this competitive with how many injuries Alex Cora’s team has suffered through, both in the rotation and in the lineup. But the offense has continued to be in the middle-of-the-pack, and the rotation has held its own, so the Red Sox are no pushover.
Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox 
📊Records: Boston Red Sox (31-31), Chicago White Sox (15-47)
📍Location: Guaranteed Rate Field; Chicago, Illinois
⏰Day/Time:
White Sox’ Bullpen Is Rough
You could point to pretty much any part of the Chicago White Sox roster to explain why the Red Sox vs White Sox betting lines are so one-sided in favor of Boston. For now, we’ll focus on the bullpen which was the main reason why Chicago’s losing streak was extended after the Cubs series. The White Sox’ relievers have the fifth-worst ERA, second-worst WHIP, worst walks per nine, fourth-worst hits per nine, and third-worst home runs per nine in baseball. Yep, that’ll do it.
The home run ball has been particularly rough on White Sox relievers as evidenced by the crucial dingers allowed late in both of the Cubs games. Pretty much everyone in that bullpen has been to blame, even closer Michael Kopech who has done well in run prevention but walks too many batters. The same is true for Jordan Leasure, who has been solid yet is walking over five batters per nine innings. You can’t issue so many free passes and allow so many home runs while expecting to be effective.
The rotation isn’t much better outside of Garrett Crochet, who will start Friday’s game. The MLB odds are not high on Thursday’s starter, Jake Woodford, who will be making only his second start of the season. Besides Crochet and Erick Fedde, Chicago’s rotation has been just as bad as the bullpen.
Houck Is An Ace
Another point in Boston’s advantage with respect to the Red Sox vs White Sox betting lines for Thursday’s opener is that Tanner Houck is on the mound. He has been the steadiest force in a topsy-turvy Red Sox season, boasting a 1.85 ERA as a legitimate Cy Young candidate. He always gives Boston a good chance to win when he’s on the mound and he should be able to hold a very weak Chicago lineup in check.
It’s also a good thing Houck will be on the mound because the MLB weather predicts a nice and clear night in Chicago where the ball could be particularly jumpy. Houck has only allowed one home run all season so he may be affected much less than Woodford. Any time you have a sub-1.00 WHIP and 2.15 FIP, it’s clear you’re someone who should mow down an offense that is dead-last in baseball in average, on-base percentage, OPS, runs scored, and home runs.
Red Sox Should Cruise
With Boston a huge moneyline favorite at -215, it might not make a ton of sense to bet on the Red Sox straight-up. You could throw their moneyline into a parlay to juice the odds but the smarter move is to go with Boston -1.5 runs on the runline at -125. There’s a reason the White Sox have lost 13 games in a row and, based on the projected pitching matchup, it would be tough for Chicago to snap the skid on Thursday night.
The under eight runs is a good bet too with Houck on the mound and the under is plus-money at +105. That value might be too good to miss out on even with the shakiness of the White Sox bullpen.
Red Sox vs White Sox Odds
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