Chi. White Sox White Sox vs Chi. Cubs Cubs Picks and Predictions August 10th 2024

From Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, we have an interleague matchup between the Cubs and White Sox. The Cubs are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -253 compared to the White Sox at +207. Today’s over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs.

First pitch for this one is set for 7:15 PM ET, and FOX has the TV coverage for today’s matchup. Justin Steele gets the start for the Cubs, and the White Sox are starting Chris Flexen. Chicago is currently on a three-game winning streak, and they are 5th in the AL Central, while the Cubs are 3rd in the NL Central.

Chicago vs. Chicago Key Information

Left-hander Justin Steele gets the start for the Cubs today as he faces the White Sox on the road. Coming into the game, he has made 18 starts and has a record of 3-5 with a 3.33 ERA. Opponents have a batting average of .215 this year off Steele. In his last outing, he picked up the win, going 6 2/3 innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits. Before that, he had taken the loss in three straight starts. Steele has made nine starts on the road, going 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA.

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So far this season, the Cubs offense is averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 17th in the league. They have been a bit better on the road, averaging 4.4 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .236 and are 17th in home runs. One thing they have done well is draw walks, as they are 7th in the league in that category.

Looking at some of the Cubs’ top hitters, Ian Happ has a team-high 19 home runs but is batting just .229 for the season. Nico Hoerner is batting .256 with five homers, and Isaac Paredes is 2nd on the team with 18 homers but is batting just .239. Paredes has gone 5/18 in his last five games with two homers, and Happ has two homers in his last four games.

Chris Flexen will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Twins, as he gets the start for the White Sox today. In that August 4th start, he gave up six earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings of work. Flexen took the loss in that outing. Looking back further, he has lost three straight starts and has a record of 2-11 this season. Flexen’s ERA is 5.53, and he has a WHIP of 1.49. Opposing batters are hitting .271 this season off Flexen. Out of his 22 starts, he has seven quality starts and is averaging 6.55 strikeouts per nine innings.

Chicago’s offense is currently last in the league in both on-base percentage and OPS. As a team, they are batting just .218 and averaging only 3.1 runs per game. This is also the worst mark in the league. The White Sox have also struggled in the power department, as they are 24th in home runs and have a collective isolated power of just .127.

Andrew Vaughn and Andrew Benintendi have been two of the team’s top power threats this season, but both players are batting just .235 and .214, respectively. However, Benintendi has been red hot of late, going 8/20 with five homers in his last five games. Vaughn also has a five-game hitting streak going.

Today’s Cubs vs. White Sox matchup is projected to be a low-scoring game, but with the line sitting at 8.5 runs, we are still leaning towards taking the over. As for a straight-up pick, we like the Cubs to come out on top, and between the two starters, we have Justin Steele finishing with more strikeouts than Chris Flexen for the White Sox.

Cubs Look to Sweep Season Series Against White Sox and Extend Hot Streak

The Chicago Cubs got an exhilarating 7-6 triumph over the Chicago White Sox on Friday, clinching the season series between the crosstown rivals. As the Cubs get ready for the final round of the four-game set on Saturday, they point not exclusively to clear the White Sox yet in addition to proceed with their new flood, having won seven of their last nine games.

Cubs’ Power Flood Drives Win

The Cubs’ most recent triumph was controlled by an amazing presentation of grand slam hitting, as they sent off four homers grayish Sox starter Garrett Stitch. Ian Happ set the vibe by beginning the game with a performance shot, trailed by Cody Bellinger’s two-run impact later in the primary inning. Isaac Paredes and Nico Hoerner added consecutive homers in the third inning, all approaching off Stitch’s shaper.

“He’s got an electric fastball and we did a nice job with the off-speed in the zone,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, praising his team’s approach against the talented left-hander.

Bellinger, who had three hits on Friday, continues to be a key contributor since returning to the lineup after recovering from a broken left middle finger. Despite being limited to designated hitter duties since rejoining the team on July 30, Bellinger has been productive at the plate, and a return to the outfield could be on the horizon.

White Sox Struggles Continue Under New Management

Friday’s loss marked the White Sox’s first game under interim manager Grady Sizemore, who took over after Pedro Grifol was dismissed on Thursday. Sizemore, a former three-time All-Star center fielder, is stepping into a challenging situation as the White Sox try to salvage something from a disappointing season.

“Every day you’re trying to pick up something that gives you an edge,” Sizemore said about his new role. “I couldn’t just list off a list here. Every day I’m trying to learn something new and try to gain more to help myself and help the team.”

While Sizemore may only be in charge temporarily, White Sox general manager Chris Getz has indicated that the organization plans to look for outside candidates to fill the managerial role permanently in the offseason.

“It unfortunately takes more than six to eight months to turn it around and feel like you’re headed in the right direction,” Getz said. “I certainly understand the skepticism of the direction we’re going based on our major league club right now. I feel very good about where we’re at and where we’re headed and what we’ve accomplished so far, but without question, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be finished.”

The White Sox are still searching for their first home victory since July 10. Despite their struggles, there have been bright spots, such as Andrew Benintendi, who hit two home runs on Friday and has now gone deep in four of his last five games.

Saturday’s Pitching Matchup: Flexen vs. Steele

Saturday’s down will include a pitching matchup between White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen and Cubs left-hander Justin Steele.

Flexen (2-11, 5.53 ERA) has had a troublesome season and is searching for his most memorable success since May 8. He’s falling off a harsh excursion against the Minnesota Twins, where he was labeled for eight runs (six procured) in only 1 2/3 innings. In spite of these battles, Flexen dealt with a strong presentation against the Cubs prior in the season, allowing only one sudden spike in demand for three hits more than five innings on June 4. Nonetheless, his overall record against the Cubs isn’t promising, with a 6.23 ERA in seven appearances (four starts).

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Steele (3-5, 3.33 ERA) has been a consistent presence for the Cubs and is falling off major areas of strength for an against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he allowed two sudden spikes in demand for four hits in 6 2/3 innings in a 6-2 triumph. Steele has not yet confronted the White Sox in his vocation, yet his new structure recommends he’ll be an extreme challenge for their setup.

Cubs Looking at Clear and Proceeded with Force

With the season series already close by, the Cubs will be hoping to finish the scope of the White Sox on Saturday and further cement their status as perhaps of the most smoking group in the association. As they keep on pursuing a season finisher spot, each success counts, and one more triumph against their cross-town rivals would be a huge lift.

On the opposite side, the White Sox will be anxious to end their new slide and give their fans something to cheer about at Ensured Rate Field. Regardless of the challenges of the time and the new managerial change, the White Sox will hope to refocus and keep away from a breadth because of their rivals.