The Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates may both be languishing at the bottom of their respective divisions, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to play for in this matchup. The MLB odds have been released for the opening game of this series, and the Pirates are slight favorites, largely due to the venue.
The weak pitching matchups outside of the legendary Paul Skenes could allow these two teams to come out firing from the All-Star break. Chicago had a tiny bit of momentum thanks to some explosive hitting with four wins in their last ten games before the All-Star break. Skenes will look to shut down the White Sox in one of these games, but he cannot do it alone. Will the Pirates be able to send the home crowd happy, or will the White Sox continue to show signs of life with a massive series victory? Let’s jump into the expert breakdown of the baseball odds for this series to find out.
Series Introduction:
- Teams: Chicago White Sox at Pittsburgh Pirates
- Dates: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 18th-20th, 2025
- First Pitch Times: 6:40 PM EST on Friday and Saturday, 1:35 PM EST on Sunday
- Venue: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Series Preview:
There is very little to play for in the way of tangible results for either of these two teams, as a late playoff push feels incredibly unlikely. However, that doesn’t mean these games are meaningless as the teams look to develop their young talent while the prospects look to solidify themselves in the major leagues. The Pirates are still facing the dilemma of what to do with Paul Skenes, as the trade rumors are flying as the deadline approaches. Skenes will take the mound for one game in this series after throwing a flawless inning at the All-Star games. That alone is worth the price of admission, and the MLB odds will adjust accordingly when he gets the nod against the White Sox.
Head-to-Head:
These two teams are perfectly level with 24 wins apiece in this head-to-head series. These inter-conference teams don’t face off often, with only six series in the last 15 years. The Pirates have gotten the better of the White Sox as of late, with a 15-7 record in that span, which includes a season sweep last year.
Key Stats and Facts:
Neither of these teams have played well this season, but the venue is what will make a real difference in this matchup. When you compare the home record for the Pirates with the road record of the White Sox, it is truly night and day. The Pirates are a respectable 26-21 at home, which is better than five teams in the National League. On the other hand, the White Sox are a miserable 11-36 on the road this year. They haven’t been able to get their bats going, and their pitching has been far from acceptable.
The Pirates will certainly benefit from their home crowd, but that alone will not earn them a series victory. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa has been a real breakout star for Pittsburgh, leading the team with a .274 average. There aren’t too many weak spots in the Pittsburgh batting order, as they have power up and down the roster with 8 players hitting .230 or higher. Oniel Cruz will always steal the show with his power, leading to a team high 16 home runs, which he also leads the team with 29 stolen bases.
Predicted Lineups:
There is no way to know the exact batting order before the official lineups, but these rosters have been what these two teams have been rolling with for the majority of the season. A late injury or callup could impact the batting orders, but more often than not, these 18 will get the chance to impact the MLB odds with a single swing of the bat.
Chicago White Sox Predicted Batting Order and Lineup:
- 1: Mike Tauchman
- 2: Chase Meidroth
- 3: Miguel Vargas
- 4: Miguel Vargas
- 5: Kyle Teel
- 6: Luis Robert Jr.
- 7: Lenyn Sosa
- 8: Colson Montgomery
- 9: Josh Rojas
Pittsburgh Pirates Predicted Batting Order and Lineup:
- 1: Tommy Pham
- 2: Andrew McCutchen
- 3: Bryan Reynolds
- 4: Nick Gonzales
- 5: Oneil Cruz
- 6: Ke’Bryan Hayes
- 7: Spencer Horwitz
- 8: Joey Bart
- 9: Isaiah Kiner-Falefa
check out our full Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago White Sox Prediction analysis
Tips and Score Prediction:
The baseball odds have given the Pittsburgh Pirates a sizable advantage, considering the road woes the Chicago White Sox have faced. The Windy City’s inability to compete away from home has been their downfall, and even a subpar Pirates team will have confidence in their abilities. A series sweep for the Pirates may be too much to ask, but the MLB odds expect them to pick up the victory. Another MLB prediction to make is on the under. These two teams have been woeful in the batter’s box compared to their average pitching, and there may not be many runs scored across these three games. When Skenes takes the mound, you can even swing for the fences with a Pirates shutout in the +1200 range. Chicago has scored one or fewer runs in seven of their last 20 games heading into this series.
Final Thoughts:
Neither of these teams will be making the playoffs and will likely be sellers at the trade deadline. However, there is plenty to play for as players are looking to not only boost their stock for future contracts, but the prospect of being traded away from these two disastrous franchises is quite tempting. This should be a fun one for both sets of fans, and once you add in that Sportzino allows you to make free MLB predictions, this instantly becomes a great series to watch.
