The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox are set to face off in the first game of their three-game interleague series at Wrigley Field. The Cubs enter the matchup as NL Central leaders, while the White Sox continue to struggle near the bottom of the AL Central standings.
Team Records & Recent Form
- Chicago Cubs (25-19, 12-10 Home) – The Cubs have been 4-6 in their last 10 games, but they remain atop the NL Central.
- Chicago White Sox (14-30, 5-18 Road) – The White Sox have also gone 4-6 in their last 10 games, but they rank 27th in MLB in scoring.
Starting Pitchers
- Cubs: Cade Horton (RHP, 1-0, 6.75 ERA) – Horton is making just his second MLB start, looking to bounce back from a rough debut.
- White Sox: Shane Smith (RHP, 1-2, 2.08 ERA) – Smith has been a bright spot for the struggling White Sox, allowing just three earned runs in his last four starts.
Key Players to Watch
Chicago Cubs
- Seiya Suzuki (OF) – Has 11 home runs and a .327 OBP, ranking among the Cubs’ top hitters.
- Dansby Swanson (SS) – Batting .375 over his last 10 games, with two home runs.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF) – Leads the Cubs with 11 home runs, providing power in the lineup.
Chicago White Sox
- Luis Robert Jr. (OF) – Has struggled but remains the White Sox’s most dangerous hitter.
- Miguel Vargas (INF) – Batting .214 with nine doubles and three home runs.
- Andrew Vaughn (1B) – Leads the team with five home runs and 18 RBIs.
Game Strategy & Predictions
- Cubs’ Game Plan:
- Exploit White Sox’s weak offense, which ranks near the bottom of MLB in scoring.
- Take advantage of Horton’s fresh arm, despite his rough first start.
- Continue offensive dominance, as they lead MLB with 6.11 runs per game.
- White Sox’s Game Plan:
- Lean on Shane Smith, who has been their most reliable starter.
- Limit Cubs’ power hitters, especially Suzuki and Crow-Armstrong.
- Find offensive consistency, as they’ve struggled to score runs.
Game Odds
Chicago White Sox 11.5
Chicago Cubs – 230
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, May 15, 2025
