It’s an interleague battle inside the city of Chicago, as the White Sox and Cubs open up a three-game set at Wrigley Field.
The White Sox, current owners of the worst record in the American League, are distant +192 moneyline underdogs in the MLB odds, and my White Sox vs. Cubs predictions have the North Siders continuing to dominate this head-to-head.
Check out my free MLB picks for Friday, May 16.
White Sox vs Cubs prediction
My White Sox vs Cubs best bet: Cubs -1.5 (-120 at Caesars)
The Chicago White Sox comes into this one playing some of their best baseball of the year, even as a season-best three-game win streak came to a screeching halt Thursday with a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of the Reds.
After putting up at least four runs in each of the last three contests, the White Sox again showed the form of a team ranked 27th in scoring at 3.44 runs per game. That’s not a great figure when your pitching staff is delivering a 4.04 ERA, which ranks just outside of baseball’s Bottom 10.
One exception to those bloated numbers come from starter Shane Smith, who’s 1-2 with a 2.08 ERA in eight starts this season.
He’s coming off a gem of a start against Miami, going six innings while allowing just four hits with no earned runs, no walks, and seven strikeouts. Smith has allowed just three earned runs in his last four starts.
We’ll see how he stacks up to the Chicago Cubs, who enter Friday as the scoring leader in the majors, pumping out 6.11 runs per game.
Though they lost Thursday to Miami, the Cubbies did win the series 2-1, snapping a slide of two straight series losses.
The Cubs turn to Cade Horton on the mound Friday. He’s 1-0 with an inflated 6.75 ERA, but will be making just his second start of the year.
The Cubs have owned this matchup lately, ripping off five straight wins and eight of the last 10, seven of those as the betting favorite.
While the ChiSox look to have the pitching advantage, the Cubs offense has looked more of its dominant self, with at least five runs scored in each of their last eight wins.
White Sox vs Cubs same-game parlay (SGP)
Cubs -1.5
Shane Smith 5+ strikeouts
Kyle Tucker Under 1.5 hits
There’s still a distinct possibility Shane Smith rings up a few Cubs batters, even if the North Siders win big.
Smith matched a season-high with seven strikeouts Thursday — matching his total from just a few weeks prior.
The Cubs are in the Bottom 5 in strikeouts as a team, and I think they wave at their fair share of offerings this Friday.
Let’s wrap it up with Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, who picked up a couple of extra-base hits during the last series against the Marlins.
However, it hasn’t been a great month of May for him, as he's hitting just .224.
After starting the month off with three multi-hit efforts in his first six games, Tucker has hit the proverbial wall, picking up just three hits total over the last seven games.
White Sox vs Cubs odds
White Sox vs Cubs live odds
White Sox vs Cubs opening odds
- Moneyline: Chicago (AL) +194 | Chicago (NL) -220
- Run line: Chicago (AL) +1.5 | Chicago (NL) -1.5
- Over/Under: Over 11.5 | Under 11.5
White Sox vs Cubs trend
Each of the Cubs' last seven games against American League opponents have gone over the total. Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Cubs.
How to watch White Sox vs Cubs and game info
| Location | Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL |
| Date | Friday, 5-16-2025 |
| First pitch | 2:20 p.m. ET |
| TV | CHSN, MARQ |
| White Sox starting pitcher | Shane Smith (1-2, 2.08 ERA) |
| Cubs starting pitcher | Cade Horton (1-0, 6.75 ERA) |
White Sox vs Cubs latest injuries
White Sox vs Cubs weather
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