Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, Odds, MLB Picks 7/25/2025

The struggling Chicago White Sox (37-66) will face their crosstown rivals, the Chicago Cubs (60-42), in a highly anticipated matchup at Rate Field this Friday with the Cubs entering as heavy -275 favorites.

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga brings his impressive 2.76 career ERA to the mound against White Sox hurler Adrian Houser, setting up a pitching contrast that heavily favors the visitors.

With the Cubs boasting MLB's second-best offense (5.3 runs per game) against the White Sox's anemic 3.70 runs per contest (27th in MLB), this Windy City showdown appears decidedly tilted toward the North Siders.

At Sporting Post, our custom prediction model blends insights from leading MLB analysts to give you a clear edge.

Instead of sorting through endless opinions, we streamline expert picks, advanced team metrics, and market trends into one place. Our AI tracks top sources and assigns a confidence score to each prediction. These are averaged into a win probability that reflects the expert consensus. It gives you a data-backed view of what the sharpest minds in MLB expect.

Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs preview

The crosstown rivalry heats up at Rate Field as the struggling White Sox (37-66) host the surging Cubs (60-42) in a classic Chicago showdown this Friday night.

Shota Imanaga takes the mound for the North Siders, bringing his impressive 2.76 career ERA against a White Sox lineup that ranks near the bottom of the league with just 3.70 runs per game.

The Cubs' offensive firepower—ranking second in MLB with 5.3 runs per contest—could prove overwhelming for Adrian Houser, who enters with a career 4.00 ERA and has historically struggled with giving up hits.

While the White Sox bullpen has been particularly vulnerable this season with a league-worst 44.8% save rate, the Cubs' relief corps has been significantly more reliable, converting nearly 70% of their save opportunities.

The stark contrast between these crosstown rivals extends beyond the standings, with the Cubs' solid defensive efficiency (71.4%) ranking third in baseball compared to the White Sox's middle-of-the-pack fielding performance.

Key stats

1

The Cubs are 17-13 at home this season, making them a stronger team at Wrigley Field than on the road

2

The White Sox have the worst record in baseball at 18-49, struggling both at home (8-25) and on the road (10-24)

3

The Cubs have won 6 of their last 10 games, showing positive momentum heading into this crosstown rivalry

4

The White Sox are allowing 5.46 runs per game, ranking 29th in MLB and presenting value for Cubs team total overs

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