The Chicago Cubs (57-74) and Chicago White Sox (75-56) play the rubber match of a three-game series Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze the lines around the Cubs vs. White Sox odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: White Sox lead 4-1
The Cubs, who were +230 underdogs, shocked the White Sox 7-0 Saturday. RHP Alec Mills tossed 8 1/3 scoreless innings, rookie 3B Patrick Wisdom hit two home runs and LF Rafael Ortega added a grand slam as the Cubs rebounded from Friday’s 17-13 loss.
RHP Kyle Hendricks is projected to start the series finale for the Cubs. He is 14-5 with a 4.09 ERA (151 2/3 IP, 69 ER), 1.33 WHIP, 6.7 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 26 starts this season.
- Last outing: No-decision, 7 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 0 BB, 6 K in 6-4 home win vs. Colorado Rockies Monday
- Career vs. White Sox: 1-4, 3.65 ERA (49 1/3 IP, 20 ER), 1.34 WHIP, 8.4 K/9 in nine starts
RHP Dylan Cease is projected to start for the Sox. He is 10-6 with a 3.92 ERA (137 2/3 IP, 60 ER), 1.23 WHIP, 11.6 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 26 starts.
- Last outing: Win, 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K in 5-2 win at Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday
- Career vs. Cubs: 1-2, 5.74 ERA (15 2/3 IP, 10 ER), 14 H, 8 BB and 20 K in three starts
Cubs at White Sox odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 8:19 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Cubs +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | White Sox -230 (bet $230 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Cubs +1.5 (-110) | White Sox -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -125 | U: +100)
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Prediction
White Sox 7, Cubs 2
Money line (ML)
BET WHITE SOX (+230) to WIN a HALF UNIT. I typically don’t like backing a big favorite, but we have a first-place team in the White Sox (AL Central) facing a Cubs team that resembles a Triple-A club.
Sure, the Cubs won Saturday as Mills shut down the White Sox. That won’t happen Sunday against Cease, who is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA (35 IP, 12 ER) across his last six starts.
He already beat the Cubs this season, striking out 10 in a 9-3 victory at Wrigley Field Aug. 8.
Plus, the Sox are 43-24 at home and the Cubs are 24-42 on the road.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
ATS records: White Sox 67-64 | Cubs 67-64
BET WHITE SOX -1.5 (-110) to WIN 1 UNIT.
They covered the spread in all four of their victories vs. the Cubs this season, winning by scores of 8-6, 4-0, 9-3 and 17-13.
The Sox are also 31-24 ATS after a loss, while the Cubs are 26-30 ATS after a W.
The South Siders rank fifth with a .253 team batting average and are seventh in runs per game (4.97).
The Cubs are hitting .231 to rank 28th and average 4.26 runs per game, ranking 21st.
Over/Under (O/U)
O/U records: White Sox 59-64-8 | Cubs 57-66-8
There are too many conflicting trends.
Both teams have cashed more Under tickets than Over bets in 2021, but the Over is 3-2 in their five head-to-head meetings.
Both starters are Over pitchers – Hendricks’ O/U is 16-10, Cease is 13-11 – but the Under is 7-4-3 in the last 14 games for the White Sox.
I’ll PASS and focus on the White Sox ML and ATS wagers, basically making them my STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager.
For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
| JOHNNY’S RECORD | W-L | SP | ROI |
| SINCE JULY 8 | 21-13 | 9-5 | +8.157 |
| *–SP: Strongest plays; ROI: Return on investment | |||
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