Game Context
The Guardians enter tonight riding a four-game win streak and holding second place in the AL Central. The White Sox are buried at the bottom of the division, are looking to salvage pride and play spoiler. Cleveland leads the season series 7–1 and has outscored Chicago by 19 runs over their last 10 games.
Pitching Matchup
| Team | Starting Pitcher | 2025 Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Guardians | Joey Cantillo (LHP) | 2–2, 4.37 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 72 K |
| White Sox | Sean Burke (RHP) | 4–8, 4.23 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 100 K |
Cantillo’s underlying metrics (3.30 xFIP) suggest he’s been unlucky and could thrive against a weak White Sox lineup. Burke’s 4.89 xFIP points to regression, and he’s projected to allow nearly 3 ER in under 5 innings.
Key Players to Watch
Cleveland Guardians
- José Ramírez: 23 HR, .520 SLG — elite production and clutch hitting.
- Kyle Manzardo: 11-for-30 with 2 HR and 6 RBI over last 10 games.
- Steven Kwan: .271 AVG, 12-for-44 in last 10 — table-setter with elite contact skills.
Chicago White Sox
- Luis Robert Jr.: .997 OPS over last two weeks — heating up at the plate.
- Lenyn Sosa: 13-for-34 with 4 HR in last 10 games — breakout potential.
- Colson Montgomery: 6 HR, .816 OPS in last two weeks — rising star in the lineup.
Team Trends & Stats
| Category | Guardians | White Sox |
|---|---|---|
| Last 10 Games | 8–2 (.267 BA, 2.84 ERA) | 4–6 (.253 BA, 4.90 ERA) |
| Road/Home Record | 31–28 (Away) | 24–33 (Home) |
| Record When 5+ Runs | 38–7 | 28–7 |
| Season Series | Guardians lead 7–1 | White Sox trail 1–7 |
Injury Report
White Sox: Missing key arms including Miguel Castro, Martin Perez, and Drew Thorpe.
Guardians: Lane Thomas, Will Brennan, and Ben Lively remain sidelined.
Final Take
Cleveland is surging and has dominated this matchup all season. With Cantillo’s deceptive arsenal and the Guardians’ ability to capitalize on weak defense, they’re well-positioned to extend their win streak. Chicago’s offense has improved post-All-Star break, but their pitching depth and fielding remain liabilities.
Game Odds
Cleveland Guardians – 131
Chicago White Sox 8.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, August 8, 2025
