Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox odds, picks and best bets

The Chicago Cubs (32-25) visit the Chicago White Sox (34-23) Friday for the opener of a weekend series at 8:10 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Cubs-White Sox MLB betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.

Thursday: The Cubs lost 7-0 at the Pittsburgh Pirates for a third straight loss. The White Sox dropped their fifth in a row with a 5-4 setback, getting swept in four at the Cleveland Indians.

Season series: White Sox lead 2-1.

Playoff picture: With three games remaining for each, both clubs have clinched playoff spots.

The White Sox trail the Minnesota Twins (35-22) by 1 game for first place in the AL Central. The Cubs are in first in the NL Central, 2½ games ahead of the lead the St. Louis Cardinals (28-26).

Cubs at White Sox: Projected starting pitchers

RHP Yu Darvish vs. RHP Dylan Cease

Darvish is 7-3 with a 2.22 ERA (69 IP, 17 ER) in 11 starts this season.

• Last start: Loss, 6 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 9 K vs. Minnesota Twins Sunday - Cubs lost 4-0
• Last 3 starts: 0-2, 4.26 ERA (19 IP, 9 ER) after going 7-1 in first 8 starts
• 2020 vs. White Sox: 1-0, 1.29 ERA (7 IP, 1 ER), 10 K in 1 start
• Career vs. White Sox: 2-1, 4.18 ERA (32 1/3 IP, 15 ER) in 5 starts

Cease is 5-3 with a 3.52 ERA (53 2/3 IP, 21 ER) in 11 starts.

• Last start: Loss, 3 IP, 3 ER, 0 H, 7 BB, 5 K at Cincinnati Reds Sunday - White Sox lost 7-3
• Last 3 starts: 0-1, 4.26 ERA (12 2/3 IP, 6 ER)
• Career vs. Cubs: 0-1, 3.00 ERA (6 IP, 2 ER) in 1 start at Wrigley Field this season

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Cubs at White Sox: Key injuries

(Get the latest injury news here.)

Cubs

• 3B Kris Bryant (oblique) questionable
• OF Ian Happ (ankle) probable

White Sox

• OF Leury Garcia (hand) out
• OF Eloy Jimenez (foot) probable

Cubs at White Sox: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 8:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Cubs 4, White Sox 3

Money line (ML)

The CUBS ( -154) are the STRONGEST PLAY with Darvish on the mound. The Cy Young candidate came through when the White Sox were going for a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field in late August. With the Sox taking the first two of that series, Darvish held the Pale Hose to one run over seven innings and struck out 10 in a 2-1 Cubs win. Expect Darvish to step up again Friday.

New to sports betting? Every winning $1.54 bet on the Cubs ML will profit $1. Every $1 bet on the White Sox (+135) profits $1.35 if they prevail. ( Strongest plays should be 1.5 times your usual bet).

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

AVOID since both Chicago teams are struggling. The Cubs (-1.5, -100) are 2-7 vs. the RL in their last nine games. Sure, the White Sox (+1.5, -121) have the best RL record in the majors at 36-21, and they're 16-11 at home. But I'll PASS.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 8 ( -110) is the way to go. Both clubs are in major scoring funks. The Sox averaged 3.0 runs per game in their last nine games, while the Cubs averaged 2.1 RPG in their last nine.

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