On Sunday afternoon, the bleachers at Wrigley Field will be as full as social distancing guidelines allow, while the Chicago Cubs take on their crosstown rivals, the White Sox. This is the third and final game of their weekend Crosstown Classic series. Along with Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Wrigley has opened its doors to a limited number of fans, and the action on the field should be terrific.
The White Sox are right in the middle of things in the American League Central, just three games back of the Minnesota Twins. The Cubs have built a 3 ½ game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.
Which team will win this series finale? Don’t miss our online MLB preview and pick of the game.
MLB Betting: August 23
Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs
Game Details
When: Sunday, August 23, 2020, 2:20 pm ET
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago
Radio: WGN 720 AM (White Sox) / WSCR 670 AM (Cubs)
TV: NBC Sports
Game Betting Odds
Probable pitchers (away/home): Dylan Cease (4-1, 3.16) (SOX) vs Undecided (CUBS)
White Sox vs Cubs
Game Odds: Check the MLB Odds
Why should you Bet on the White Sox?
In an uneven season, the White Sox have gotten nothing but solid production out of Dylan Cease so far. He did lose his first start, a 4-3 nailbiter against the Cleveland Indians in which he only lasted 2 ⅓ innings (and gave up all four of those runs). Since then, though, in starts against the Royals, Indians and Tigers (twice), Cease has given up just five earned runs on 19 hits, striking out 16 while walking nine. The White Sox offense has responded for him, scoring 28 runs in those four games.
Dallas Keuchel called the rest of the team out last week after the team dropped a game to the Detroit Tigers, pointing out that the White Sox have way too much talent to be a .500 team — but that is where they are right now. Along with Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Encarnacion, players like Keuchel can and should be delivering leadership. Will the White Sox follow this up with a strong weekend on the other side of town? We will see — and Cease is one reason for Sox fans to be optimistic.
Chicago White Sox to Win the Game | Check the Odds
Why should you Put your Money on the Cubs?
We don’t know who the Cubs will start on Sunday. It could be an opener followed by a long reliever; it could be pitcher-by-committee; it could be a call-up from someone else on the 40-man roster. It’s hard to argue that the Cubs will dominate the Sox with some sort of patchwork pitching plan.
The Cubs have gotten off to a solid start — and Javier Baez and Kris Bryant aren’t even hitting that well. Bryant has yet to crack the .200 line in batting average, and the last time his strikeout rate was this high, it was his rookie season. Baez had a 25-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio coming into this week, with a dreadful .241 on-base percentage and a .203 batting average. When both of those hitters wake up, the Cubs will be even more frightening to opposing pitchers than they are now.
Chicago Cubs to Win the Game | Check the Odds
Final Score and Prediction
It’s hard to lock in on a bet with one starting pitcher still to be decided, but given how well Cease has been pitching for the White Sox, it’s somewhat safe to pick them as a winner, particularly if the Cubs go with one of the makeshift options that we listed earlier. I don’t see Cease showing signs of trouble, and day games tend to feature a little less offense than night games, as hitters often have a harder time picking up the ball out of the pitcher’s hand. I’m taking the White Sox with a 5-3 win, but I do reserve my right to change my mind once the Cubs announce a starter.
White Sox vs Cubs: Crosstown Classic
Chicago Rivalry to its best | Bet on the Game Now!
