Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox Betting Preview
The Crosstown Classic is set to get underway Saturday as the Chicago Cubs (18-26), and the Chicago White Sox (22-22) get set to battle in an interleague matchup. The White Sox will host this one at Guaranteed Rate Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:15 pm ET.
The Cubs split their last series with the Reds, but they lost their last two. On Thursday, they dropped the finale in an embarrassing way as they lost 20-5.
Offensively, the Cubs hit three home runs, but they just couldn’t keep up with the Reds’ offense. Cubs’ pitchers allowed 20 earned runs on 20 hits while also walking seven.
The White Sox did not do too much better in their last series. They lost two of three and gave up 16 runs twice, including a 16-7 loss on Thursday.
Dallas Keuchel’s struggles continued as he gave up six earned runs in just two innings of work. In the defeat, Andrew Vaughn hit his fifth home run of the season.
The White Sox are the slight favorite on Saturday. They are -144 to win while the Cubs’ moneyline sits at +122. The runline features Chicago +1.5 (-166), and the over/under for total runs is 8.5.
Cubs Look To Move Over .500 On The Road
At 18-26, it has been a rough season for the Cubs as they already sit ten games back of first in the division. For as rough as the start of the season has been, though, they have actually played better on the road (11-11) than at home (7-15). On Saturday, they will look to move over .500 away from Wrigley Field.
On the mound for the Cubs will be 27-year-old righty Keegan Thompson. This season, he is 4-0 in 10 starts with a 1.54 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and has struck out 31 in 35 innings.
Thompson has picked up wins in both of his last two outings, going a combined eight innings and giving up just six hits and one earned run.
Offensively, Willson Contreras has been the best hitter for the North Siders. A likely trade candidate this season, he is hitting .260/.389/.480 with six home runs, 15 runs batted in, and 25 runs scored.
Leading the Cubs in the power department has been Patrick Wisdom. Despite hitting just .217/.280/.483, Wisdom has a team-leading ten home runs and 26 runs scored. He has also driven in 23. In his career versus Cueto, Wisdom is two for two with two home runs.
White Sox Trying To Close Gap With Twins
Prior to the season, many experts predicted the White Sox would run away with the AL Central. Currently five games back of the Minnesota Twins, this is not exactly how Chicago hoped the first quarter of the season would start.
Despite the rough start, the White Sox are still the favorites to win the division at -120, while the current leaders, the Twins, are +140 to win the AL Central.
Taking the mound for the White Sox on Saturday will be righty Johnny Cueto. In just two starts, Cueto has gone 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and has 12 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched.
In his last start, the crafty veteran threw six scoreless innings against the New York Yankees, allowing six hits and striking out five.
Unfortunately, the White Sox are going to be a bit shorthanded for this one as Luis Robert is out due to COVID-19 protocols, and Yoan Moncada is questionable for the game due to a leg injury.
One player the White Sox would like to see get going is first baseman Jose Abreu. This season, the former MVP is hitting just .236/.328/.401 with five home runs and 19 runs batted in.
Take The White Sox To Win At Home
This one is not an easy one to call. Both teams have been playing poorly lately, as the Cubs have lost six of their last nine, and the White Sox have lost five of their last seven at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Still, in the head-to-head series, it has been all White Sox as of late. In fact, they have beaten the White Sox in seven of their last eight games.
With that in mind, take the White Sox to win this one at home on the moneyline at -144.
