Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs Predictions, Odds, Picks

• White Sox hold pitching advantage
• Both sides look to get offense going
• X-factors to watch

White Sox vs Cubs Odds

Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs Prediction and Picks

These two teams are struggling. The White Sox got the 3-1 win in the series opener and maybe it’s a sign they’re turning a corner having won three of their past four, but still, they’re 4-10 in their last 14.

The Cubs meanwhile are 3-10 in their past 13 and have lost four of their past five. Neither Lucas Giolito or Kyle Hendricks have been all that reliable this season, but Giolito is the better arm.

White Sox moneyline

Garcia’s 2021 record: (10-6)

Trends to Watch (As of 5.3)

• White Sox are 5-0 in their last 5 interleague road games
• White Sox are 11-1 in their last 12 interleague games
• White Sox are 9-1 in their last 10 interleague games vs. a team with a losing record
• White Sox are 18-5 in their last 23 interleague games as a favorite
• White Sox are 4-11 in their last 15 overall
• White Sox are 2-8 in their last 10 vs. a team with a losing record
• White Sox are 1-6 in their last 7 road games
• Under is 4-1-1 in White Sox last 6 overall
• Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings
• White Sox are 6-1 in the last 7 head-to-head meetings
• Cubs are 41-21 in their last 62 interleague games vs. a team with a losing record
• Cubs are 4-10 in their last 14 interleague games as an underdog
• Cubs are 9-25 in their last 34 home games vs. a right-handed starter
• Cubs are 3-10 in their last 13 overall
• Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 interleague games
• Cubs are 1-8 in their last 9 vs. a team with a losing record
• Cubs are 0-7 in their last 7 interleague home games vs. a team with a losing record

White Sox Hold Pitching Advantage

He might not be in midseason form after missing multiple weeks with an injury, but the Whtie Sox have their ace in Lucas Giolito on the mound and he slowly appears to be rounding into form.

After throwing just four innings in each of his first two starts – though he gave up only one combined run in those two outings – Giolito recorded his first quality start of the season against the Angels his last time out, but it still wasn’t enough.

Giolito lasted six innings, gave up two home runs in that contest, finishing with three earned runs on seven hits, with seven strikeouts. On the season, Giolito has a 2.57 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 22 strikeouts in just 14 innings.

But even with the impressive numbers, Chicago hasn’t found success in his starts, going 0-3 in those games this year.

The Cubs will counter with veteran Kyle Hendricks, who has been extremely inconsistent this year. Hendricks has had three games where he’s given up two runs or fewer, but also has two starts where he’s given up six earned runs and failed to make it out of the fifth.

All together, he’s 1-2 on the season with a 5.47 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 24.2 innings.

Slumping Offenses Looking for a Kick Start

The White Sox have won three of their past four games (after losing nine of 10 before that) but still, not all their problems are solved. In their past 18 games, the White Sox have scored more than four runs just twice. In fact, their 75 runs scored are the fifth fewest in all of baseball.

Over the past week, the southsiders are hitting just .230 and getting on base at a .287 clip. If there has been a bright spot, it’s been Tim Anderson, who is hitting .357 (10-for-28) over the last week. Luis Robert has been solid during that stretch as well, going 6-for-17.

The Cubs have been no better on offense and if anything over the past week, have been even worse. The Cubs have scored six total runs in their past five games and the only reason they’re near the middle of the pack offensively is because they scored 21 runs in a game vs. Pittsburgh.

Since that contest, over the past eight games, they’ve scored just 16 runs. Nobody with at least 10 at bats the past week is hitting even .250. The best hitter over the past seven games? Wilson Contreras, who is 4-for-17 (.235) and Patrick Wisdom who has two home runs in that stretch (the same as the rest of the team combined).

X-factors to Watch

It won’t be easy to pick a few bats to watch, but we’re going to try. The White Sox do not hit right-handers well, but Gavin Sheets has been alright in that regard. The DH/outfielder is third on the team in average (.239) and OBP (.300) against right-handed pitching and he will have to continue to be big as long as Andrew Vaughn is out.

For the Cubs, Ian Happ has been solid against righties. The centerfielder has gone just 12-for-44 (.273) but has been able to walk seven times for a .421 OBP.

How to Watch White Sox vs Cubs