The Chicago Cubs (25-19) host the Chicago White Sox (14-30) on Friday, May 16, 2025. First pitch from Wrigley Field is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET; the game will be broadcast on MLB Network.
No venue in baseball is more receptive to wind than Wrigley, and with 20 mph winds blowing out, the total is set at 11.5 (-120o / -102u) on Friday with the Cubs as -230 moneyline favorites.
Find my White Sox vs Cubs predictions and parlay picks below, as well as the latest MLB odds, probable pitchers, betting trends and more.
White Sox vs Cubs Predictions, Parlay Picks
- Under 11.5
- Cubs Moneyline
- Pete Crow-Armstrong Hit
Parlay Odds: +255 (Fanatics)
My White Sox vs Cubs best bet for Friday is on the under. If you want a parlay, I feel good about tacking on the Cubs moneyline and Pete Crow-Armstrong to log a hit.
White Sox vs Cubs Odds, Lines
| White Sox Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 11.5 -129o / -102u | +190 |
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 11.5 -120o / -102u | -230 |
White Sox vs Cubs Projected Starting Pitchers
| RHP Shane Smith (CWS) | Stat | RHP Cade Horton (CHC) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | W-L | 1-0 |
| 1.2 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.0 |
| 2.08 / 3.34 | ERA /xERA | 6.75 / 2.72 |
| 3.03 / 4.17 | FIP / xFIP | 4.60 / 3.16 |
| 1.08 | WHIP | 1.00 |
| 13% | K-BB% | 27.8% |
| 44.9% | GB% | 27.3% |
| 95 | Stuff+ | 94 |
| 105 | Location+ | 94 |
White Sox vs Cubs Preview, Prediction
White Sox Betting Insights
Rookie Shane Smith is quietly having a really strong start to his career on the South Side.
The White Sox selected Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers with the first selection of the Rule 5 Draft over the offseason and he made Chicago's Opening Day roster. Smith has been the best pitcher on the White Sox, posting a 2.08 ERA through his first six starts.
Smith has a fastball that sits in the upper 90s that has been terrific, and he pairs it well with mostly his changeup and slider. He added the changeup to his arsenal this season and it has been his best pitch.
Smith has allowed more than two runs in an outing just once all year and is coming off a career-best seven-strikeout performance.
It is hard to believe, but the White Sox offense has actually been worse so far this season than they were last year. They hit .225 as a team with a .627 OPS in last season’s disaster; they are hitting just .214 with a .613 OPS this year.
Chicago's two catchers are the only players in its lineup with a wRC+ above 100, which is considered league average. In fact, they are the only two players with a wRC+ above 90. Nobody on this team has hit more than five home runs.
Cubs Betting Insights
Former first-round pick Cade Horton will make his first career start on Friday after making his MLB debut last weekend.
The Cubs' No. 2 overall prospect entered the game after an opener and showed mixed results. He allowed three runs and four hits across four innings but struck out five batters.
One thing that was clear for Horton: he has the stuff to succeed at the MLB level.
He throws a fastball that touched 97 mph and a wipeout slider that generated five whiffs. Horton also threw one changeup in the game, a nasty one on a 2-2 count to strike out Juan Soto and help secure his first career win.
Behind Horton will be an offense that is firing on all cylinders. The Cubs are second in the league in runs scored and are top five in team OPS and home runs.
This lineup does everything well — they generate walks, run the bases well, and hit for power.
Offseason acquisition Kyle Tucker has made an instant impact, leading the team with a .897 OPS, but the biggest story might be the breakout of Pete Crow-Armstrong.
We knew PCA was going to play elite defense and cause havoc on the bases, but he has already clubbed 11 home runs and has an .844 OPS.
White Sox vs Cubs Prediction, Over/Under Pick
Smith has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts this season. He has surrendered just one home run all year and does an elite job at preventing opponents from barreling him up. Smith has been able to keep the ball on the ground over 47% of the time, ranking in the top third of the league.
