Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction, Preview and Odds - 07/03/2026

Game Time: 7:10 pm ET, Friday, July 3, 2026

Venue:  Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  White Sox +113, Guardians -136; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  White Sox +115, Guardians -135; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  White Sox +115, Guardians -135; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Chicago White Sox:  45-40 (1st place, AL Central)

Cleveland Guardians:  45-42 (2nd place, AL Central)

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Chicago White Sox:  6-4 last 10

Cleveland Guardians:  4-6 last 10

The White Sox are entering this series off a loss and won their 3-game series against the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 45-40 record overall and have a road record of 17-26. This is the 2nd game of a 4-game series with the Guardians on Friday with the series opener still to be played on Thursday. Their offense ranks 7th in the MLB with a .738 OPS. Davis Martin is their starting pitcher on Thursday while Anthony Kay is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 6-3 with a 4.50 ERA this season. His team lost 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 4 ER, 0 HR, and 1 BB with 2 SO on 7 hits through 3.2 IP against the Kansas City Royals.

The Guardians are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Texas Rangers 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 45-42 record overall and have a home record of 22-20. This is the 2nd game of a 4-game series with the White Sox on Friday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Thursday. Their offense ranks 28th in the MLB with a .677 OPS. Slade Cecconi is their starting pitcher on Thursday while Gavin Williams is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 9-4 with a 3.81 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 2 earned runs, 0 homers, and 3 walks with 6 strikeouts on 6 hits through 5 innings pitched against the Seattle Mariners.

The current betting odds have the Guardians listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Guardians have looked good in their games this season with their 45-42 record overall which has them right near the top of the AL Central. They have looked good in their own ballpark too with their 22-20 home record this season. Meanwhile, the White Sox have looked good in their games this season with their 45-40 record overall which has them right at the top of the AL Central. They have been a terrible road team though with their 17-26 road record this year. The White Sox are 6-4 in their last 10 games while the Guardians are 4-6 in their last 10 and the White Sox also have one of the best offenses in MLB while the Guardians have one of the worst, but the Guardians do have a great pitching staff and they are going to have the better pitching matchup here. The Guardians are going with Williams in this one and he has looked good this season. He is 9-4 with a 3.81 ERA and he has been their most successful starter this season. His team has been having more trouble lately as they have lost 3 of their last 4 games with him starting, but he only gave up 2 earned runs in his last start and that has been a common theme for him lately. The White Sox are going with Kay in this one and he hasn't looked great this year. He is 6-3 with a 4.50 ERA this season and he has been giving up quite a few runs lately. He is coming off another start in which he gave up 4 earned runs which has been a common theme for him, and his team has lost 2 of their last 3 games with him starting too. Look for the Guardians to take advantage of this pitching matchup at home in this very important series to get back atop the AL Central. The best way to place a bet here is on the Guardians to win this game. 

White Sox Guardians Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, July 3, 2026 (7:10 pm ET start time) is Guardians 5 White Sox 2.

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Chicago White Sox: 146-263 (-57.2 units) on the moneyline in all games. 62-143 (-45.2 units) on the moneyline in road games. 123-247 (-60.6 units) on the moneyline as an underdog of +100 or higher. 26-16 OVER in road games.

Cleveland Guardians: 230-193 (+34 units) on the moneyline in all games. 121-90 (+11.3 units) on the moneyline in home games. 132-80 (+22.6 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -110 or higher. 13-7 OVER as a home favorite of -125 to -175.

Chicago White Sox:  E. Pereira (RF) Seven Day IL - Concussion. T. Gilbert (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. A. Hays (LF) Sixty Day IL - Calf. M. Murakami (1B) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. 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.

Cleveland Guardians:  A. Martinez (LF) Ten Day IL - Foot. J. Ramirez (3B) Ten Day IL - Hand.

"Yeah, excited, bummed about today, but we will regroup and be ready for a big series against them, which obviously we are very excited about."  - Will Venable after his team’s loss against the Orioles in their game on Wednesday. 

“When you have a bad month, you’re like, ‘Hey, it’s July 1st,’ but when you have a good month, you’re like, ‘Hey, it’s still June.’ I definitely think we’re happy it’s July 1st, because that was a tough month.” - Stephen Vogt after his team’s win against the Rangers in their game on Wednesday. 

Sam Antonacci (L) LF

Miguel Vargas (R) 3B

Kyle Teel (L) C

Andrew Benintendi (L) DH

Colson Montgomery (L) SS

Braden Montgomery (S) RF

Chase Meidroth (R) 2B

Tristan Peters (L) CF

Jacob Gonzalez (L) 1B

Travis Bazzana (L) 2B

Chase DeLauter (L) DH

Kyle Manzardo (L) 1B

Kahlil Watson (L) RF

Brayan Rocchio (S) SS

Cooper Ingle (L) LF

Gabriel Arias (R) 3B

Patrick Bailey (S) C

Steven Kwan (L) CF

Batting Average:  Sam Antonacci (.295)

Hits:  Chase Meidroth (84)

Home Runs:  Colson Montgomery (21)

RBI:  Miguel Vargas (52)

Stolen Bases:  Luisangel Acuña (14)

Wins:  Davis Martin (9)

Saves:  Seranthony Domínguez (12)

ERA:  Duncan Davitt (0.00)

Batting Average:  Kahlil Watson (.286)

Hits:  Brayan Rocchio (76)

Home Runs:  Angel Martínez (11)

RBI:  Chase DeLauter (38)

Stolen Bases:  José Ramírez (24)

Wins:  Gavin Williams (9)

Saves:  Cade Smith (26)

ERA:  Logan Allen (0.00)

Managers:

Chicago White Sox: Will Venable (2nd season)

Cleveland Guardians: Stephen Vogt (3rd season)