Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, Preview and Odds - 08/19/2026

Game Time: 2:20 pm ET, Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Venue:  Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  White Sox +131, Cubs -140; Over/Under:  8 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  White Sox +125, Cubs -150; Over/Under:  8 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  White Sox +125, Cubs -155; Over/Under:  8 runs

Chicago White Sox:  65-59 (1st place, AL Central)

Chicago Cubs:  73-53 (2nd place, NL Central)

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Chicago White Sox:  6-4 last 10

Chicago Cubs:  6-4 last 10

The White Sox are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Detroit Tigers 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 65-59 record overall and have a road record of 28-35. This is the series finale of a 3-game series with the Cubs on Wednesday with the 2nd game still to be played on Tuesday. The White Sox lost the series opener on Monday. Their offense ranks 9th in the MLB with a .729 OPS. Bryan Hudson is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Sean Newcomb is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 1-3 with a 2.51 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 0 ER, 0 HR, and 1 BB with 2 SO on 0 hits through 2.1 IP against the Detroit Tigers.

The Cubs are entering this series off a loss and lost their 3-game series against the St Louis Cardinals 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 73-53 record overall and have a home record of 37-26. This is the 3rd game of a 3-game series with the White Sox on Wednesday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Tuesday. The Cubs won the 1st game of this series on Monday. Their offense ranks 3rd in the MLB with a .757 OPS. Kevin Gausman is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Clay Holmes is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 5-5 with a 2.56 ERA this season. His team lost 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 0 earned runs, 0 homers, and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts on 1 hit through 6.2 innings pitched against the St Louis Cardinals.

The current betting odds have the Cubs listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Cubs have looked really good in their games this season with their 73-53 record overall which has them right near the top of the NL Central. They have looked good in their own ballpark too with their 37-26 home record this season. Meanwhile, the White Sox have looked good in their games this season with their 65-59 record overall which has them right at the top of the AL Central. They haven't been a good road team though with their 28-35 road record this year. The White Sox are 6-4 in their last 10 games and they have been having a great season, but they have looked like a different team in their road games this year. They have also been dealing with some injuries to their pitching staff lately and they aren't going to have their best option on the mound here. They do have a good offense to lean on, but their bullpen has had trouble all season and the Cubs do have one of the best offenses in MLB themselves. The Cubs are also 6-4 in their last 10 games and they are going with Holmes in this one who has been good all season. He is 5-5 with a 2.56 ERA and he hasn't been giving up many runs. The team has had some trouble with him lately, losing 3 of their last 4 games with him starting, but he is coming off a great start in which he gave up no runs and that has been a common theme for him. The Cubs have also looked a lot better at home this season, so look for them to take advantage of this pitching matchup with the better offense. The best way to place a bet here is on the Cubs to win this game. 

White Sox Cubs Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (2:20 pm ET start time) is Cubs 6 White Sox 4.

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Chicago White Sox: 12-31 (-15.6 units) on the moneyline against NL Central opponents. 166-282 (-55 units) on the moneyline in all games. 73-152 (-41.1 units) on the moneyline in road games. 8-2 OVER against NL Central opponents.

Chicago Cubs: 253-205 (+20.6 units) on the moneyline in all games. 136-94 (+12.6 units) on the moneyline in home games. 197-150 (+27 units) on the moneyline against right-handed starters. 10-5 OVER against AL Central opponents.

Chicago White Sox:  D. Martin (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Finger. C. Murphy (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Flexor. J. Bart (C) Ten Day IL - Hand. K. Teel (C) Ten Day IL - Ankle. J. Leasure (RP) Sixty Day IL - Flexor. T. Murray (LF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. P. Berroa (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. B. Baldwin (LF) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. M. Vasil (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. D. Thorpe (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. K. Bush (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Chicago Cubs:  E. Cabrera (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Blister. D. Swanson (SS) Ten Day - Side. B. Brown (RP) Sixty Day IL - Neck. G. Hollowell (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. P. Maton (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Knee. M. Shaw (RF) Ten Day IL - Hand. H. Milner (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Appendicitis. D. Palencia (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. R. Martin (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. P. Hodge (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Horton (SP) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. H. Harvey (RP) Sixty Day IL - Tricep. J. Steele (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. T. Austin (1B) Sixty Day IL - Knee. S. Miller (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“It was a fun game to play, obviously outside of the result. We were able to hit those homers, and you hear the White Sox fans in the crowd, there was a lot of White Sox presence there, which was really cool to see. Just an electric atmosphere.” - Will Venable after his team’s loss against the Cubs in their game on Monday. 

“This might be his best game in the big leagues right here. It was an amazing game.” - Craig Counsell after his team’s win against the White Sox in their game on Monday. 

Chase Meidroth (R) 2B

Munetaka Murakami (L) 1B

Miguel Vargas (R) 3B

Randal Grichuk (R) DH

Braden Montgomery (S) RF

Brenton Doyle (R) CF

Sam Antonacci (L) LF

Luisangel Acuña (R) SS

Jake Rogers (R) C

Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF

Seiya Suzuki (R) RF

Michael Busch (L) 1B

Alex Bregman (R) 3B

Ian Happ (S) LF

Nico Hoerner (R) SS

Pedro Ramírez (S) 2B

Michael Conforto (L) DH

Carson Kelly (R) C

Batting Average:  Randal Grichuk (.293)

Hits:  Chase Meidroth (121)

Home Runs:  Munetaka Murakami (28)

RBI:  Miguel Vargas (72)

Stolen Bases:  Luisangel Acuña (16)

Wins:  Davis Martin (9)

Saves:  Seranthony Domínguez (12)

ERA:  Hagen Smith (1.93)

Batting Average:  Justin Dean (.375)

Hits:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (135)

Home Runs:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (30)

RBI:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (78)

Stolen Bases:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (31)

Wins:  Colin Rea (8)

Saves:  Jacob Webb (9)

ERA:  Ty Blach (0.00)

Managers:

Chicago White Sox: Will Venable (2nd season)

Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell (3rd season)