The Pittsburgh Pirates (39-58) and Chicago White Sox (32-65) will meet in the MLB tonight. First pitch from PNC Park is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast live on CHSN.
Pittsburgh is a -170 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Chicago is +140 to pull off the upset. The over/under is set at 8.5 total runs.
Continue below for my White Sox vs Pirates predictions and MLB picks for Friday, July 18, as well as probable pitchers, betting trends, injury reports and more.
My White Sox vs Pirates Prediction
- White Sox vs Pirates pick: Under 8.5 (-105)
My Pirates vs. White Sox best bet is on the under, with the best line currently available at BetMGM. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
White Sox vs Pirates Odds
| White Sox Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -160 | 8.5 -115o / -105u | +140 |
| Pirates Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +135 | 8.5 -115o / -105u | -170 |
White Sox vs Pirates Preview, Picks
This MLB betting system, titled "Steam Unders with Low OU Support," is built on the premise that sharp money moving totals downward, paired with weak public support on the under, creates an exploitable edge in the betting market.
The strategy focuses on regular season games from 2019 to 2025 where the closing total lands between 8 and 10 — sweet spots for scoring volatility — which is where the number lies for today's matchup between the White Sox and Pirates.
It isolates games where the over/under line has dropped significantly from open to close, signaling smart money on the under, yet public sentiment heavily favors the over, with only a small share of bets backing the under.
This mismatch between money and ticket count indicates potential value, especially when the difference between those two figures is meaningful but not extreme.
To reduce noise, the system excludes games played in extreme heat or cold, only including those where temperatures range from mild to warm.
It also requires both teams to have a recent record of games that hover around the total, suggesting no extreme streaks skewing expectations.
These filters ensure that neither team is riding unsustainable over or under trends.
Ultimately, this system looks for low-confidence unders that have been steamed down by sharp bettors, where public interest is light and the number still sits within a realistic scoring range.
The result is a consistent edge, backed by a high sample size and strong return on investment.
White Sox vs Pirates Best Bet
- Under 8.5 (-105)
