by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, May 03, 2022
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Where to watch: NBC Sports Chicago, Marquee Sports Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: White Sox -145, Cubs +125
WynnBet: White Sox -142, Cubs +132
Caesars: White Sox -145, Cubs +135
Season record
White Sox: 9-13
Cubs: 9-13
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White Sox - Cubs preview and analysis
Did you ever think in your wildest dreams we’d be talking the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs would have the same record? What about if I told you the Cubs and White Sox would have the same LOSING record because the White Sox are underachieving hard to begin this season.
The two Chicago rivals will meet on Tuesday to begin a series that has the Cubs as the home team. And it’s going to be a night where the Cubs come in more confident and thrilled than their AL Counterparts.
The Cubs have been waiting for the moment where Marcus Stroman would have his “Welcome-to-Chicago” moment, and Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers was just that when he threw seven scoreless innings and struck out five against reigning Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes and Milwaukee to a 2-0 victory.
"I feel like I'm getting there. Just making positive strides," Stroman said. "Definitely getting more comfortable with each and every rep, and getting to a place where I think I can kind of succeed from here on out."
The Cubs have hoped that Stroman, their prized free-agent acquisition this past winter, would make strides to solidify the rotation and this performance would do exactly that. Stroman could’ve gone to a contender, to a team with World Series aspirations, but his dream to pitch in Wrigley Field could not overshadow that.
And as a result, the Cubs are not where they want to be, but are much better than anyone anticipated when they went through the tear-down of all tear-downs last year. But the Cubs, behind Rookie of the Month Seiya Suzuki, is not totally plummeting to the Earth’s core and seems to have a decent shot at life.
"We're starting to see what Stroman is," Cubs catcher Yan Gomes said after a 2-0 win over the rival Brewers. "That guy that's full of confidence on the mound. That outing kind of showed it."
But the White Sox are coming into this game having put together a pitching masterpiece of their own, winning 2-0 over the Los Angeles Angels and Dylan Cease striking out 11 batters of his own. Three of them came against Mike Trout, if you’re looking for anything else worthwhile.
“Yeah. It definitely means a lot,” said a smiling Cease. “He’s maybe the greatest player of all-time. Any time you can get him out, it’s definitely a confidence booster.”
His teammates also took notice.
“Cease took it to him,” said shortstop Tim Anderson, who singled and scored during a two-run first. “That’s the beautiful part of the game, being able to go out to compete against the best, and being able to beat him at the best. Cease definitely had the upper hand today. He’s going to have to face him a lot more, so hopefully he keeps that going.”
The White Sox should certainly be better than this record indicates, but this start was certainly a reminder of how good they can be. Chicago’s rotation has taken a hit personnel wise, but there’s a lot to like heading into this battle.
Prediction
And with that, I said earlier this season that I’d never bet against Suzuki. That trend continues as this series begins. Seiya Suzuki for MVP. Cubs win 5-3
Betting trends
White Sox are 61-34 as a favorite between -125 and -175 the past three seasons.
White Sox are 24-16 against NL Central opponents the past three seasons.
Cubs are 20-8 in May the past three seasons.
Cubs are 16-29 as an underdog the past three seasons.
Projected lineup
White Sox:
Tim Anderson (R) SS
Luis Robert (R) CF
AJ Pollock (R) LF
Jose Abreu (R) DH
Yasmani Grandal (S) C
Jake Burger (R) 3B
Adam Engel (R) RF
Gavin Sheets (L) 1B
Josh Harrison (R) 2B
SP - Michael Kopech
Tim Anderson (R) SS
Luis Robert (R) CF
AJ Pollock (R) LF
Jose Abreu (R) DH
Yasmani Grandal (S) C
Jake Burger (R) 3B
Adam Engel (R) RF
Gavin Sheets (L) 1B
Josh Harrison (R) 2B
SP - Michael Kopech
Cubs:
Alfonso Rivas (L) 1B
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Ian Happ (S) LF
Frank Schwindel (R) DH
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Jason Heyward (L) CF
Nico Hoerner (R) SS
Yan Gomes (R) C
Nick Madrigal (R) 2B
SP - Drew Smyly
Alfonso Rivas (L) 1B
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Ian Happ (S) LF
Frank Schwindel (R) DH
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Jason Heyward (L) CF
Nico Hoerner (R) SS
Yan Gomes (R) C
Nick Madrigal (R) 2B
SP - Drew Smyly
Statistical leaders
White Sox:
Batting average: Tim Anderson -- .329
Hits: Tim Anderson -- 25
Home runs: Andrew Vaughn -- 4
RBI: Andrew Vaughn -- 12
Wins: Dylan Cease -- 3
Saves: Liam Hendriks -- 5
ERA: Dylan Cease -- 2.48
Cubs:
Batting average: Ian Happ -- .303
Hits: Two tied -- 20
Home runs: Two tied -- 4
RBI: Seiya Suzuki -- 15
Wins: Keegan Thompson -- 2
Saves: David Robertson -- 5
ERA: Marcus Stroman -- 5.13
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
