You’re a passionate White Sox fan, and that is quite understandable. But, the Astros are narrow favorites to win Game 4 of the American League Division Series. According to FanDuel, the beloved home team is +112 under, while the Astros are -130 set to win. So, do you bet on the home team despite facing the likelihood that they will lose? Or, do you place your money on the White Sox, pray with all your might, and hope for a huge win?
What we cover
Putting the White Sox Over the Top
The White Sox are not without star-power, and several sometimes overlooked team members could put the home team over the top. One of those is relief pitcher Michael Kopech. Fresh out of his first full season in the major leagues, Kopech is now in rotation. He’s able to throw for multiple innings and is known for striking out the competition.
Leury García is a versatile, all-around player who can take nearly any position. García may not be a superstar, but he’s a key player to watch. You never know where Garcia may turn up, and he is good at whatever he does.
Rookie Gavin Sheets brings the skill set of a Lefty to the field. He consistently hits home runs against right-hand pitchers. Another rookie, Andrew Vaughn, is also a Leftie who can best be a right-handed pitcher. Sheets has hit five home runs since September, while Vaughn has hit four.
Pitcher Garrett Crochet is often overlooked, but team manager Tony La Russa has often called on Crochet, with robust results. The 2020 draft pick threw a 101 mph ball during his Major League debut against the Boston Red Sox.
Center fielder Billy Hamilton has a huge presence known for his base-running ability. He’s not a bad hitter either, with two home runs this year. Hamilton can easily be deployed as a pinch-runner that goes the distance.
Of course, the rest of the team is strong too. And let’s not forget, the Astros have a narrow edge, which could easily be overcome with the right set of circumstances.
Experience Counts!
This game is the first time that two MLB managers aged 70+ face off in a playoff series. One thing you can say about this game, two of the most highly experienced team managers will be on the field.
The OG’s are 77-year-old Tony La Russa, manager of the White Sox, and 72-year-old Dusty Baker, manager of the Houston Astros. They’ve only faced off as managers in the postseason once, in 2002 La Russa managed the St. Louis Cardinals and Baker managed the New York Giants. During that game, the Giants beat the Cardinals for the World Series.
Chicago’s La Russa is the oldest playoff manager in baseball history, something to definitely be proud of. And, this is not the first time he’s led the White Sox to the playoffs. La Russa was there in 1983 when the home team won the American League West.
Wouldn’t it be grand if La Russa could win one more title before he retires again? La Russa retired for the first time in 2011, after winning the National League Championship. The three-time World Series Winner and Hall of Famer surprised everyone when he came out of retirement to lead the White Sox. Why did he do it? No one really knows, but perhaps he just can’t get the game out of his system.
La Russa has been in the game since 1962, starting off in the minor leagues playing for the Daytona Beach Islanders and the Binghamton Triplets. By the next year, he was drafted into the major leagues, playing for the Kansas City As. His final year as a player came in 1973, playing for the Chicago Cubs; during his final game with the Cubs, La Russa scored a walk-off winning run. Needless to say, he’s been good for Chicago over the years.
Team Loyalty vs Pragmatism
So, should you put your money down on Chicago? That is entirely up to you. However, if your pragmatic side kicks in, perhaps you can bet on both teams, and pray that the White Sox win.
Once again, the Astros only have a narrow margin, and the South Siders are a very strong team. Of course, if the Astros manage to eliminate the White Sox from the series, you will wish you had bet on the opposing team. Either way, you bet, the right wager could yield a big win for you. But right now, it’s too close for us to call.
