MLB Baseball
2026-08-31 - Chicago at Houston Astros
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Monday 31st August 2026 - Scheduled 8:10pm EST
1:10am (British Time)
Preview
Winning back to back series on the road against both teams from New York means the Houston Astros (69-68) have moved back above 0.500 for the season and they hold a 2 game lead over the Texas Rangers in the Division. This is a battle that is sure to go down to the wire with only one of the American League West representatives looking capable of earning a spot in the post-season.
The Astros have won four of the last six games, but there is still a lack of consistency which is keeping the likes of the Rangers and Seattle Mariners interested in the Division. It is Houston who are in control, but they begin another tough series when hosting the American League Central leaders.
The Chicago White Sox (72-64) had a four game winning run snapped when losing the last game against the Minnesota Twins, but they are 3.5 games clear of the Cleveland Guardians within the Division. They may be overachieving this season, but the White Sox can see the Playoffs looming up and they remain confident they can hold off the Divisional rivals and can secure a spot in the Divisional Round of the post-season.
The road team will hand the ball to Anthony Kay who has a 9-6 record and 4.09 in his twenty-seven appearances in 2026 of which twenty-five have been in starts. The time spent in Japan has helped Kay grow and develop, although he will be looking to bounce back from his poorest outing in August when he allowed four runs without completing 5 Innings, although not factoring into the decision.
Anthony Kay had not allowed more than three runs in any of the previous eleven starts and so will be looking to bounce back immediately to give his team a chance to win. This will be the first time Anthony Kay has started against the Houston Astros, but the White Sox will remain firmly behind the starting pitcher.
The batting lineup will feel they can do their part against Peter Lambert, who will be getting the ball for the Houston Astros. He does have a solid 8-7 record with a 3.66 ERA in his twenty-three starts in 2026 having not pitched in the Major League last year, but there may be some thinking Peter Lambert has hit a slight wall with his 5.25 ERA in his last seven starts.
Peter Lambert was rocked for nine runs a couple of starts ago, but did recover to hold the New York Yankees to two earned runs into the 6th Inning most recently. Houston have not backed up the pitcher very well and that does mean Lambert has not earned a decision win in any of the last eight starts.
Three years ago, Peter Lambert held the Chicago White Sox to a single run in 7 Innings thrown as a member of the Colorado Rockies.
Prediction
You can understand the Houston Astros being posted as favourites in this game, but Anthony Kay is pitching well enough for the Chicago White Sox to give his team a real chance as the underdog.
Peter Lambert has remained largely steady, but has not been supported as he may have hoped and the White Sox can take the opener of this important three game series between Divisional leaders in the American League.
The Pick :
Houston Astros 3-4 Chicago White Sox
