The second half of the Major League Baseball season is underway and now we head into what should be an entertaining weekend. Saturday features a nationally televised game on FS1 between Cleveland and Oakland in addition to a trio of regionally televised contests on FOX. It includes this showdown between the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox. Here is our same game parlay for Houston-Chicago, and be sure to check out our full game preview for picks on the side and total.
Part of the value in same game parlays, of course, is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. That is the entire plan here, as Lucas Giolito mowing down batters left and right would obviously go well with a Chicago win. Jose Abreu going deep would do the same. Let’s break down each of the three legs one by one.
The Astros are without Alex Bregman and a couple of starting pitchers in Zack Greinke and Jose Urquidy. A series against the White Sox would not be easy even at full strength. Chicago gets to start the second half at home and its success at Guaranteed Rate Field has been a big part of why it holds such a big lead in the AL Central (31-15). Giolito does not have the best numbers on Chicago’s staff, but his arm talent is superior to everyone else. He gives them a great chance to win every time he takes the mount. All of his numbers are better at home, too.
Giolito has struck out at least seven batters in six of his last eight starts, and also in 13 of 18 starts this season. Needless to say, getting him at plus money to do so again on Saturday is an absolute steal. Thanks to the All-Star break, the right-hander is pitching on a full week of rest after striking out nine in just 5.1 innings of work against Baltimore last Saturday. Yordan Alvarez of the Astros has struck out 87 times in 2021 and Martin Maldonado is not too far behind with 76 whiffs.
Abreu has five hits in his last three games, including a pair of doubles. He has homered twice in the last seven outings, giving him 15 for the year. The 34-year-old first baseman is also quite familiar with Houston starter Jake Odorizzi, having logged 28 lifetime at-bats against the righty. Abreu has been successful, too, getting ten hits, one of which left the yard.
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