Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs Prediction 8/18/2026 Today’s MLB Picks

In this article, we will formulate a White Sox vs Cubs Prediction for this MLB matchup on Tuesday, August 18th in the second game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.

Chicago Cubs Preview

The Chicago Cubs have a 73-53 record this season and are sitting in 2nd place in the NL Central. They have a 37-26 home record and are coming off a 7-5 home win against the White Sox. They will face the Mariners and the Diamondbacks next.

The Chicago Cubs have a .249 batting average this season, a .338 OBP, and a .419 slugging percentage. The Cubs’ pitching staff has a 4.16 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs with a .281 batting average, while leading the team in RBI with 78 and adding a team-high 30 home runs.

Kevin Gausman (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Cubs, and he has a 6-11 record, a 4.53 ERA, and a 1.27 WHIP.

Chicago White Sox Preview

The Chicago White Sox have a 65-59 record this season and are sitting in 1st place in the AL Central. They have a 28-35 road record and are coming off a 5-7 road loss against the Cubs. They will face the Braves and the Mets next.

The Chicago White Sox have a .239 batting average this season, a .318 OBP, and a .411 slugging percentage. The White Sox’ pitching staff has a 4.11 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Chase Meidroth leads the White Sox with a .275 batting average. Miguel Vargas leads the team in RBI with 72 and adds a team-high 28 home runs.

Bryan Hudson (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the White Sox, and he has a 3-4 record, a 3.14 ERA, and a 1.28 WHIP.

The Chicago White Sox @ the Chicago Cubs Betting Trends: August 18, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Kevin Gausman      Record this season: 6-11      ERA: 4.53
• Home Record: 3-5
• Last 5 against White Sox: 2-0

Why the Chicago Cubs will win

• The White Sox have lost each of their last 10 road games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• The Cubs have won each of their last seven home games against the White Sox.
• The White Sox have failed to cover the run line each of their last seven road games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• The Cubs have covered the run line each of their last six night games against teams that held a winning record.
• The White Sox have trailed after 5 innings in six of their last seven games as road underdogs against National League opponents.
• The Cubs have won the first inning in each of their last four games as favorites against the White Sox.
• The White Sox have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four games at Wrigley Field.

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Bryan Hudson      Record this season: 3-4      ERA: 3.14
• Road Record: 1-1
• Last 5 against Cubs: 1-1

Why the Chicago White Sox will win

• The White Sox have won each of their last four games as road underdogs following an extra innings loss.
• The Cubs have lost five of their last six games as home favorites against American League opponents following a win.
• The White Sox have covered the run line in each of their last six road games following an extra innings loss.
• The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in 10 of their last 11 night games against AL Central opponents following a home win.
• The White Sox have led after 5 innings in four of their last five night games against National League opponents.
• The Cubs have trailed after 3 innings in three of their last four night games.

Total Runs Facts

• Seven of the last eight games between the White Sox and Cubs have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Seven of the White Sox’s last eight games against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in each of the Cubs’ last 13 games against AL Central opponents.
• There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in each of the White Sox’s last seven games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Seiya Suzuki has hit a home run in three of the Cubs’ last four home games against AL Central opponents.
• Kevin Gausman has recorded six or more strikeouts in eight of his last 10 appearances in night games against AL Central teams that held a winning record.
• Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last 12 games against the White Sox.
• Kevin Gausman has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances against AL Central opponents.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks 4th amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.550) this season.

Chicago White Sox Player Prop Facts

• Munetaka Murakami has hit a home run in three of the White Sox’s last four road games against NL Central opponents.
• Miguel Vargas has recorded at least one hit in each of the White Sox’s last 13 road games against NL opponents.
• Munetaka Murakami ranks 7th amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.539) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Cubs rank 1st in the league for on-base percentage this season (.338).
• The Cubs rank 1st in the league for walks this season (536).
• The White Sox rank T4th in the league for home runs this season (166).
• The White Sox rank T25th in the league for strikeouts against this season (1135).

White Sox vs Cubs Prediction

The Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 meetings against the White Sox and have won their last four meetings in Chicago.

In this White Sox vs Cubs Prediction, the Cubs are coming as -160 home favorites. I don’t like the Cubs as such big favorites with Gausman on the mound, who has a 6.17 ERA as a Cub. In their last 10 games, both teams’ bullpens have 4+ ERA and they both average 11.4 runs per game combined. They are 14-6 to the over in their last 20 games combined and I expect another high-scoring affair today. Take the over 8.5 runs in this one.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Over 8.5