White Sox vs Astros Opening day MLB: times, how to watch on TV, stream online
Opening Day will see the defending World Series Champion Houston Astros host the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, March 30 at 7:08 p.m. ET
The 2023 season get under way as the MLB Opening Day sees the defending World Series Champion Houston Astros host the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, March 30. First pitch is at 7:08 p.m. ET.
You can watch the Chicago White Sox vs the Houston Astros live stream on game on FuboTV (where a free trial is avaialble)
When does Chicago White Sox vs Houston Astros start?
The game between the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros starts on March 30, 2023 at
- 7:08 p.m. ET
- 4:08 p.m. PT
How to watch Chicago White Sox vs Houston Astros
- TV: ESPN, MLB.TV
- Streaming: FuboTV
You can watch the Chicago White Sox vs the Houston Astros live stream on game on FuboTV (where a free trial is avaialble).
Chicago White Sox vs Houston Astros preview
Chicago White Sox
Chicago will try and build on last year’s success, where they fell just short of the playoffs, knocked out by the Houston Astros. They have a new rookie manager in Pedro Grifol, who will be making his managerial debut in this game after serving as bench coach for the Kansas City Royals under Mike Matheny.
The Sox haven’t won on Opening Day since 2018 and will try and put that right. They will be getting back a few players who had a stellar outing in the WBC in Tim Anderson, Eloy Jimenez, and Yoán Moncada, adding to an already stalwart roster featuring Andrew Benintendi and Elvis Andrus.
Houston Astros
The Astros have been the strongest team in the MLB for the last five years and that shows no sign of changing this season. Substantially the same lineup as that which won the World Series only four months ago, they will be bringing nearly all of their big guns to the fight, with Jeremy Peña, Alex Bregman, Yordan Avarez, Kyle Tucker, and Martín Maldonado among the players returning.
One notable absence is their All-Star second baseman José Altuve, who fractured his right thumb in the WBC and will be out for at least two months following corrective surgery.
Chicago White Sox vs Houston Astros prediction
History and trend would dictate that the Astros will take this game, and while that isn’t always a reliable indicator in baseball, there would seem to be no reason to waver from that in this case. The White Sox have not won on Opening Day in four years, while Houston has won ten in a row, tying a MLB record.
Despite the loss of Altuve, the Astros have a strong replacement in Mauricio Dubón and their batting order is perhaps the most potent in baseball. Again.
Look for the Astros to take Opening Day off Chicago, and perhaps even sweep the series.
Who are the starting pitchers for Opening Day?
Chicago White Sox: RHP Dylan Cease
Dylan Cease will get the Opening Day start, the first in his career, breaking tradition for Chicago where the last three were given to Lucas Giolito. It is a wise choice to open with your biggest gun, and they don’t come much bigger than Cease. He finished last season with a 2.20 ERA and came second to Justin Verlander in the Cy Young race.
Houston Astros: LHP Framber Valdez
Framber Valdez gets the nod for the second year running to start Opening Day for the Astros. He is a cannon on the mound and finished last season with a 2.82 ERA. Like his opponent, he was a Cy Young finalist in 2022 and went at least six innings deep into all of his starts last season bar five occasions.