Count On Cubs To Dominate vs White Sox in Series Opener

White Sox vs Cubs preview gives edge to home team

White Sox vs Cubs Preview

The battle for Windy City supremacy begins on Tuesday night, with the slumping Chicago White Sox visiting the struggling Chicago Cubs for the first of a two-game set. Neither team will be checking for their spot on the MLB playoff schedule if they keep up their current paces, but there’s plenty of season left to be played.

The White Sox (15-45) have dropped 11 straight games, including four straight on the road. Chicago is sitting at the bottom of the AL Central standings with the worst record in the majors, trailing the fourth-place Detroit Tigers by 15 games.

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The Cubs haven’t been much better lately, dropping nine of their last 11 games, including a 5-2 setback on Sunday. Chicago (29-31) is in second place in the NL Central standings, percentage points ahead of the second-place St. Louis Cardinals and seven games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.

As might be expected, the Cubs are favored in this contest, sitting with -300 odds on the moneyline. The White Sox are +240 to get a straight-up win. Even when getting 1.5 runs on the run line, the White Sox are only getting +115 odds, while the Cubs are -135 when giving those runs. The over/under for the series opener is set at nine runs, with the under getting -115 odds and the over -105.

The first pitch of this contest is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

White Sox logo White Sox vs Cubs Cubs logo

📊Records: White Sox (15-45; 5-24 away) / Cubs (29-31; 16-13 home)
📍Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago
⏰Day/Time:
📺Streaming: NBCSCH, Marquee Sports Network

Frustration Setting In For White Sox

There wasn’t a great deal of optimism for the White Sox heading into this season, and they’ve unfortunately lived up to those expectations. Chicago has just one win since May 15, and all that losing seems to be getting to the players.

In Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, outfielder Tommy Pham was upset with being thrown out at the plate on a sacrifice fly and tried to mix it up with Brewers catcher William Contreras. After the game, he was still heated, upset that he was sent home on the play and that Contreras was excited about tagging him out before scoring.

The lack of offense for the White Sox has been frustrating to everyone associated with the team. Chicago is dead last in the majors in scoring with 172 runs, with the next lowest scoring team, the Marlins, sitting at 219 runs. The White Sox are also last in baseball in home runs (43) and batting average (.214).

Shortstop Paul DeJong has been a bright spot for the team at the plate, hitting his ninth home run of the season in Sunday’s loss. DeJong is batting .231 with nine doubles, 20 RBI and 21 runs scored and homered in two of the three games against the Brewers over the weekend.

Right-hander Chris Flexen will get the call to start the series opener for the White Sox. Flexen is 2-5 with a 5.50 ERA in 12 appearances this season, starting 10 of those outings. He had some trouble with control in his last outing, going five innings against the Toronto Blue Jays last Wednesday and allowing two runs on four hits but walking five while striking out six.

Cubs Hoping For Better From Imanaga

For much of his rookie MLB season, Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga had been cruising, putting together a 5-0 record and 0.84 ERA through his first nine starts. But his last outing showed how quickly things can turn at this level.

Facing the Brewers last Wednesday on the road, Imanaga struggled mightily, lasting just 4.1 innings and allowing seven runs on eight hits, including two home runs, while striking out one and walking one to take his first MLB loss. The runs allowed equaled how many he had allowed in his first nine outings, as he gave up career highs in hits and home runs as well.

He’ll get the chance for redemption in Tuesday’s game against a less-than-explosive offense of the White Sox. Adding the under for the White Sox’s runs is a good decision when putting together your MLB picks and parlays.

The Cubs haven’t been struggling at the plate of late, averaging 4.8 runs over their last six games. Chicago is right in the middle of the MLB stats for runs scored on the season with 257, tied with the Atlanta Braves.

Third baseman Christopher Morel has provided the pop in the Cubs’ lineup, leading the team with 10 home runs and 35 RBI. Unfortunately, he’s been more missed than hit this season, batting just .195 with 53 strikeouts in 205 at-bats. Morel is one of four Cubs with 50 or more strikeouts this season.

Outfielder Cody Bellinger was 3-for-4 in Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Reds, hitting a double and driving in a run. Bellinger has multiple hits in six of his last nine games and is batting .265 on the season. The former NL MVP has 10 doubles, a triple, eight home runs, 27 RBI, and 19 runs on the season.

Cubs Cruise To Opening Win

While the MLB weather causing the wind to blow out at Wrigley Field can sometimes make things easier for a visiting team, the White Sox are not going to find their scoring prowess against Imanaga in this one. The Cubs’ ace is looking to make up for his worst MLB outing to date, and he’ll send down the White Sox easily on Tuesday night.

The Cubs need to get more consistent on the mound, but they’ll have what they need in the series opener. After checking out our White Sox vs Cubs preview, you should be putting your bets down on the home team to come away with the easy win.

White Sox vs Cubs Preview & Odds

For MLB standings, betting analysis, and more visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.


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