Chicago Cubs vs Chicago White Sox Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/16/2026

Game Time: 7:10 pm ET, Saturday, May 16, 2026

Venue:  Rate Field, Chicago, IL 

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Cubs -110, White Sox -110; Over/Under:  8 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Cubs -110, White Sox -110; Over/Under:  8 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Cubs -110, White Sox -110; Over/Under:  8 runs

Chicago Cubs:  28-16 (1st place, NL Central)

Chicago White Sox:  22-21 (2nd place, AL Central)

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Chicago Cubs:  6-4 last 10

Chicago White Sox:  6-4 last 10

The Cubs are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Atlanta Braves 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 28-16 record overall and have a road record of 10-11. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the White Sox on Saturday with the series opener still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 5th in the MLB with a .743 OPS. Edward Cabrera is their starting pitcher on Friday while Jameson Taillon is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA this season. His team won 5 of their last 6 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 1 ER, 0 HR, and 2 BB with 4 SO on 4 hits through 5.1 IP against the Texas Rangers.

The White Sox are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Kansas City Royals 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 22-21 record overall and have a home record of 12-9. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Cubs on Saturday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 9th in the MLB with a .721 OPS. Sean Burke is their starting pitcher on Friday while Davis Martin is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 5-1 with a 1.62 ERA this season. His team won their last 5 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 earned runs, 0 homers, and 2 walks with 9 strikeouts on 3 hits through 6 innings pitched against the Seattle Mariners.

The current betting odds have the White Sox listed as a pick ‘em in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. They have looked great in their games this season with their 28-16 record overall which has them right at the top of the NL Central. They haven't been a good road team though with their 10-11 road record this year. Meanwhile, the White Sox have looked good in their games this season with their 22-21 record overall which has them right near the top of the AL Central. They have looked better in their own ballpark too with their 12-9 home record this season. The White Sox have looked good lately, going 6-4 in their last 10 games and they have improved a lot from being one of the worst teams in the league the last few years. The Cubs have also been rolling lately with one of the best records in MLB, but they definitely haven't been at teir best lately and the White Sox can take advantage of that. The White Sox are going with Martin in this one and he has been their ace this season. He is 5-1 with a 1.62 ERA and has been shutting teams down all year. He only gave up 1 earned run in his last start which has been a common theme for him and the team has won 5 games in a row now with him starting too. The Cubs are going with Taillon in this one and he hasn't looked bad this year. He is 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA and still hasn't been great though. He only gave up 1 earned run in his last start and the team has been having a ton of success with him too, winning 5 of their last 6 games with him starting, but he has been up and down with his starts this year and the Cubs offense hasn't exactly been exploding lately either. The Cubs have one of the best offenses in the league at the moment, but they haven't been putting up many runs lately and the White Sox haven't been that far behind offensively either. Look for the White Sox to take advantage of this better pitching matchup at home in what looks like their best chance at taking a game in this series. The best way to place a bet here is on the White Sox to win this game. 

Cubs White Sox Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Saturday, May 16, 2026 (7:10 pm ET start time) is White Sox 3 Cubs 2.

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Chicago Cubs: 23-15 (+6.2 units) on the moneyline against AL Central opponents. 208-168 (+21 units) on the moneyline in all games. 64-43 (+16.5 units) on the moneyline in an inter-league game. 24-17 OVER in all games. 11-2 OVER vs. a team with a poor bullpen whose ERA is 4.20 or worse.

Chicago White Sox: 9-27 (-13.9 units) on the moneyline against NL Central opponents. 68-115 (-24.5 units) on the moneyline in home games. 38-71 (-20 units) on the moneyline in an inter-league game. 12-4 OVER when playing against a team with a winning record. 18-11 OVER against right-handed starters.

Chicago Cubs:  M. Boyd (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Knee. R. Martin (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. C. Thielbar (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Hamstring. P. Hodge (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Horton (SP) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. H. Harvey (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Tricep. J. Steele (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Wicks (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. T. Austin (1B) Sixty Day IL - Knee. S. Miller (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Chicago White Sox:  A. Hays (LF) Ten Day IL - Calf. T. Murray (LF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. E. Pereira (RF) Ten Day IL - Shoulder. P. Berroa (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. B. Baldwin (LF) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. M. Vasil (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. K. Teel (C) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. D. Thorpe (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. K. Bush (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“We pitched five guys tonight, and when you're going through five guys, that's not easy. It's not one guy kind of cruising through the course of the game. It's figuring out five guys and five pitch mixes, and that's where the catcher probably doesn't get enough credit. So, I think from that perspective, Miguel did a heck of a job.” - Craig Counsell after his team’s win against the Braves in their game on Thursday. 

“I think that makes a very big difference. It helps these guys hold each other accountable, give each other energy every day and communicate well. We’re seeing it show up in everything that they do.” - Will Venable on his team enjoying playing together this season. 

Nico Hoerner (R) 2B

Alex Bregman (R) 3B

Ian Happ (S) LF

Seiya Suzuki (R) DH

Matt Shaw (R) RF

Michael Busch (L) 1B

Dansby Swanson (R) SS

Miguel Amaya (R) C

Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF

Chase Meidroth (R) 2B

Miguel Vargas (R) 3B

Munetaka Murakami (L) 1B

Randal Grichuk (R) LF

Edgar Quero (S) C

Andrew Benintendi (L) DH

Derek Hill (R) CF

Luisangel Acuña (R) SS

Jarred Kelenic (L) RF

Batting Average:  Michael Conforto (.333)

Hits:  Nico Hoerner (46)

Home Runs:  Ian Happ (10)

RBI:  Nico Hoerner (29)

Stolen Bases:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (11)

Wins:  Shota Imanaga (4)

Saves:  Daniel Palencia (3)

ERA:  Ethan Roberts (0.00)

Batting Average:  Randal Grichuk (.313)

Hits:  Chase Meidroth (43)

Home Runs:  Munetaka Murakami (15)

RBI:  Colson Montgomery (29)

Stolen Bases:  Luisangel Acuña (7)

Wins:  Davis Martin (5)

Saves:  Seranthony Domínguez (10)

ERA:  Duncan Davitt (0.00)

Managers:

Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell (3rd season)

Chicago White Sox: Will Venable (2nd season)