Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 8/17/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Monday, August 17, 2026

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+125) Chicago (-145)

The Chicago White Sox (64-58) are on their way to Wrigley Field on Monday where they will take on the Chicago Cubs (72-52). The line on this contest has the White Sox at +125 and the Cubs open at -145. The over/under comes in at 8.5. The pitchers expected to start will be Luis Castillo and Shota Imanaga.

As a unit, the Chicago White Sox are putting up 4.8 runs per game, which has them sitting at 7th in the league. They have tallied 587 runs and hold an on-base percentage of .318. The White Sox have tallied 196 doubles as a team and have hit 161 baseballs out of the park. They have 560 runs batted in as well as 985 base knocks so far this year, while their batting average is sitting at .240. Chicago has a slugging percentage of .411 and have been called out on strikes 1,112 times, while taking a walk on 414 occasions.

Get all of our MLB Expert Picks

Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.35 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.29. White Sox pitchers have allowed 134 long balls and also 542 runs in total (14th in the league). Chicago has given up 971 base knocks (8.0 per 9 innings) and also 496 earned runs. The White Sox are sitting with a team earned run average of 4.10 on the campaign (15th in the league), and their staff has rung up 1,033 batters. They have walked 439 hitters and their FIP comes in at 4.19 as a unit so far this year.

The White Sox relievers have a save percentage of 57.4% and stepped onto the hill in 106 save situations. They have compiled 31 saves so far this year and have blown 23 of 54 save chances. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 191 runners this year and 32.5% of those players ended up scoring. White Sox pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 132 times in addition to having 123 appearances in high leverage situations. The White Sox have sent 413 relief pitchers to the hill this season. The relievers are sitting with 51 holds on the year (25th in MLB).

The Chicago White Sox have notched a total of 3,268 putouts for the season, in addition to 1,000 assists and 66 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .985 which has them sitting 19th in pro baseball, and they have turned 85 double plays. The White Sox have transformed 70.5% of balls hit into play into outs out of 9,804 innings on the field, which ranks them 11th in baseball.

Castillo (85-84 career win-loss record) sits with a FIP of 3.51 and he has gone up against 5,865 hitters during his time in the majors. He has given up 1,215 base hits (7.7 hits per 9 innings) and has 456 walks. His ERA is 3.56 (562 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.176. Castillo has taken the mound for 1,421 frames and has accounted for 1,508 K's in his career.

The Cubs have a slugging percentage of .417 and they have an average of 5.17 runs per game (2nd in MLB). They have recorded 208 doubles, while taking a walk 526 times as well as putting up 641 runs. Chicago has accumulated 157 HRs on the campaign and 603 runs batted in. They have struck out on 1,064 instances (7th in baseball) and have earned a total of 1,059 hits. The Chicago Cubs are sitting with an OBP of .338 in addition to a team batting average of .249 this season.

The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 534 runs on the campaign while holding a team ERA of 4.10 (505 earned runs conceded). They have given up 187 dingers and they surrender 4.34 runs per 9 innings (10th in the league). The Cubs have a team WHIP of 1.250 with a FIP of 4.68 as a staff so far this year. Their K/BB ratio is 7.70 (947 strikeouts against 363 bases on balls). They are currently ranked 19th in baseball as a staff in total hits conceded with 1,021.

Sitting with 100 save situations, the Cubs have accrued 46 holds in addition to 19 blown saves. Chicago has had bullpen pitchers enter the game in 48 save chances and they have come away with 29 saves. Chicago bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 30.2% of 169 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 119 times in high leverage situations in addition to 121 occasions with runners on. They are ranked 20th in the league holding a save rate of 60.4%, and they have sent 396 relief pitchers to the mound for the year.

In their 9,969 innings on the diamond, the Cubs have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 72.1% (2nd in MLB). The Chicago Cubs have gotten 95 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .990 (2nd in professional baseball). The Cubs have racked up 1,160 assists, 46 errors and have earned a total of 3,323 putouts over the course of the season.

In his MLB career, Imanaga has allowed 388 base hits while he has totaled 421 K's in 455 innings pitched. Imanaga (32-20 career win-loss mark) has a 3.42 earned run average while surrendering 7.7 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed 173 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.035 and a FIP of 3.4. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 5.07 and he has faced 1,815 opposing batters so far in his MLB career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago (+125)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get MLB picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.