Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/16/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Friday, May 16, 2025

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+172) Chicago (-210)

Wrigley Field is the location where the Chicago Cubs (25-19) will attempt to beat the Chicago White Sox (14-29) on Friday. The line on this matchup has the White Sox at +172 and the Cubs are coming in at -210. The betting total comes in at 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound will be Shane Smith and Cade Horton.

As a unit, the Chicago White Sox are putting up 3.4 runs per contest, which has them at 27th in the league. They are sitting with 148 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .292. The White Sox have earned 57 doubles as a unit and have knocked 32 balls out of the stadium. They have earned 143 runs batted in and 301 hits on the season, and their average at the plate is sitting at .216. Chicago has a slugging % of .328 and have been called out on strikes 369 times, while taking a walk on 142 occasions.

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The White Sox hold a team ERA of 3.96 over the course of the season (15th in baseball), and the staff has struck out 310 batters. White Sox pitchers have allowed 45 long balls and 177 runs (12th in the league). They have walked 160 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 4.52 as a squad so far this year. Chicago has surrendered 345 hits (8.4 per 9 innings) as well as 163 earned runs. Their K/BB ratio is 1.94 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.36.

White Sox relief pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 42 times in addition to having 38 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have a total of 20 holds this year (25th in baseball). The White Sox bullpen have recorded a save percentage of 30.0% and have entered the game in 30 save situations. They have accumulated 3 saves this season and have missed out on 7 of 10 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 58 base runners for the season with 34.5% of those players crossed home plate. The White Sox have dispatched 142 relief pitchers to the mound on the year.

The White Sox have turned 70.1% of balls in play into outs out of 3,333 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting at 14th in the majors. The Chicago Cubs have 1,111 putouts this season, in addition to 353 assists and 29 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .981 which puts them in 27th in professional baseball, and have 36 double plays.

Smith has taken the mound for 43 innings and has totaled 38 strikeouts thus far in his career. His ERA is 2.09 (10 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.090. He has surrendered 32 hits (6.7 hits per 9 innings) and has 15 free passes. Smith (1-2 mark in his career) holds a FIP of 2.06 while he has faced 177 opposing hitters during his time in the majors.

The Chicago Cubs hold an OBP of .327 in addition to a team batting average of .250 this season. They have been rung up on 353 occasions (17th in the league) and have earned a total of 380 base hits. Chicago has tallied 63 home runs for the season as well as 240 runs batted in. The Cubs have a slugging percentage of .436 and they score 5.55 runs per contest (2nd in baseball). They have hit 75 doubles, while getting a free base 168 times and racking up 244 runs.

The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 192 runs over the course of the season while holding an ERA of 4.02 (176 earned runs surrendered). They have conceded 52 HR's and they give up 4.39 runs per 9 innings (18th in the league). The Cubs have a team WHIP of 1.302 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.21 as a staff so far this season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 8.10 (355 strikeouts vs 140 free passes). They are sitting at 21st in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 373.

With 44 save situations, the Cubs have compiled 26 holds in addition to 7 blown saves. Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the mound in 17 save chances and they have recorded 10 saves. Their relief pitchers have come in 47 times in high leverage situations and also on 35 occasions with base runners. Chicago bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 38.0% out of their 50 inherited runners. They are ranked 23rd in baseball holding a save percentage of 58.8%, and they have sent 152 relievers to the mound on the season.

In 3,546 innings played, the Cubs hold a defensive efficiency of 69.8% (16th in pro baseball). The Chicago Cubs have turned 36 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .985 (20th in pro baseball). The Cubs have 355 assists, 24 errors and have earned 1,182 putouts this season.

Horton (1-0 career record) has a 6.75 ERA and has allowed 9.0 hits per nine innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 0.00 and he has gone up against 18 opposing batters in his career. He has given up 3 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.000 and having a FIP of 6.6. In his pro baseball career, Horton has allowed 4 hits while earning 5 strikeouts in 4 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago (+172)

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