Bet $5 at SI Sportsbook on Astros/White Sox, Get $100!

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The Chicago White Sox will host the Houston Astros in a pivotal series for Chicago. The White Sox have found themselves two games out of the American League Wild Card race, which currently has the Blue Jays, Mariners and Rays in the three spots. We thought the second half of the season would be the long-awaited turn around to the somewhat disappointing start to the season, but that has not progressed as rapidly as we thought for the White Sox.

The White Sox did sweep the Tigers but are coming off three losses in four games against the Kansas City Royals. A series win against the Astros could go a long way to getting the wins needed to crack into the wild card slots.

Houston has now overtaken the New York Yankees for the best record in the American League with 75 wins and just 41 losses. The Astros are 8-5 in the month of August and sit comfortably in first place in the American League West by 13 games over the Seattle Mariners. Most of that success is due to their insane +141 scoring differential, second best in all of baseball.

The SI Sportsbook is offering all new players an opportunity to earn $100 in free bets. To redeem the promotion, you must use the VIBONUS code at sign up and place an initial wager with odds of -120 or greater. The qualifying wager must be at least $5 and if it settles as a win the SI Sportsbook will deposit $100 in free bets into you account. Free bet stakes are deposited into your account within 72 hours of the qualifying wager settling. Free bet stakes not included in winnings and expire after seven days.

The pitching matchup will feature a surprising fountain of youth in Johnny Cueto. He comes in with just a 4-5 record but has a 2.91 ERA on the season. He has been able to eat 102 innings and has allowed 102 hits, 11 home runs,  issued 23 free passes and struck out 68 batters. He comes into this game on the heels of eight straight quality starts and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 straight and 15 of his 16 starts.

He will be opposed by Jose Urquidy who has had a nice year for the most part but is coming in off allowing five earned runs in just five innings of work against the Rangers. He owns a 3.85 ERA on the season but is a little worse on the road with a 4.83 ERA. He has gone through 119.1 innings and has allowed 113 hits, 20 home runs, issued 26 free passes and struck out 94 batters.

The SI Sportsbook has the Houston Astros as -133 favorites on the money line and the Chicago White Sox as slight underdogs at a +110 price. If you are confident on the White Sox, a $100 wager would net a return of $110. The total is set to 8.5 with the over a little juicer at -118. The under is even money. The Astros have seen the total go over in five of their last six contest and the Chicago White have gone 3-1-1 to the over in their last five. The last six meeting between these franchises has seen the over hit four of their last six.

The SI Sportsbook is a great place to wager on this matchup, and they offer a ton of wagering options like the total, side, first five innings, props and even live betting. Remember to use the VIBONUS code at sign up for a chance to win up to $100 in free bets. All you must do is place a minimum $5 wager and win, and the SI Sportsbook will deposit $100 in free bets within 72 hours.

Until next time, enjoy the ride.

Written by Reno Jonny, our US sports betting industry expert. Check him out on Twitter @Reno_Jonny.