Chicago White Sox vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview: 2025-07-19
As the Chicago White Sox prepare to face the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 19, 2025, both teams find themselves in critical phases of their respective seasons. The White Sox are battling for a wild card spot in the American League, currently sitting just 2.5 games behind the final playoff berth. Meanwhile, the Pirates are looking to capitalize on a promising start to the season as they hold a narrow lead in the National League Central division. This interleague showdown promises to be more than just a regular-season game; it’s a pivotal encounter with significant postseason implications.
Analysis Content
Recent Performance
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have enjoyed a strong stretch lately, boasting a 7-3 record over their last 10 games. This surge has been bolstered by a four-game winning streak, including a decisive series sweep against the Kansas City Royals. Key moments from these games include a walk-off home run by slugger Eloy Jiménez and a shutout performance by ace pitcher Lucas Giolito. Despite a shaky start to the season, the White Sox appear to be clicking at the right time, with their offense averaging 5.2 runs per game over this span.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates, on the other hand, have faced some turbulence recently, going 4-6 in their last 10 games. They managed to avoid a sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers with a clutch victory in the series finale, thanks to a late-game rally led by veteran Andrew McCutchen. However, the team has struggled with consistency, particularly in the bullpen, which has accounted for three blown saves during this period. Despite the recent slip, the Pirates maintain a slim half-game lead atop the NL Central, making each game critical as they fend off the surging St. Louis Cardinals.
Head-to-Head History
In their season series, the White Sox and Pirates have been evenly matched, each taking two games from their four encounters so far. Historically, the Pirates have had the edge in recent meetings, winning seven of the last 10 games against the White Sox dating back to 2022. However, with both teams in fluctuating form, past trends may take a backseat to current dynamics.
Pitching Matchups
The probable starters for this matchup are Dylan Cease for the White Sox and Mitch Keller for the Pirates.
Dylan Cease (CHW): Cease has been a dominant force this season, posting a 3.15 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. His strikeout rate of 11.2 per nine innings is among the best in the league, showcasing his ability to overpower hitters. In his last outing, Cease allowed only one run over seven innings, striking out ten against the Detroit Tigers. Injury-wise, he’s been healthy, which bodes well for a White Sox team relying on his steady presence on the mound.
Mitch Keller (PIT): Keller has struggled at times this season with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Despite occasional control issues, he maintains a respectable strikeout rate of 9.3 per nine innings. In his latest start, Keller gave up four earned runs in five innings against the Cincinnati Reds. He will need to rebound against a potent White Sox lineup, especially considering his recent struggle with command.
Key Position-Player Matchups
For the White Sox, Eloy Jiménez and Tim Anderson have been pivotal at the plate.
Eloy Jiménez: Batting .295 with a .900 OPS, Jiménez has hit 28 home runs with 82 RBIs this season. His power makes him a constant threat, especially against a pitcher like Keller who has been susceptible to the long ball.
Tim Anderson: With a .320 batting average and an .850 OPS, Anderson remains a catalyst for the White Sox offense. His knack for getting on base and stealing bases (25 steals) provides the team with versatility and scoring opportunities.
From the Pirates, look out for Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen.
Bryan Reynolds: Despite the team’s ups and downs, Reynolds has been consistent, posting a .285 average with an .820 OPS, 20 home runs, and 64 RBIs. His ability to hit for power and average could be crucial against Cease’s high-velocity pitches.
Andrew McCutchen: The veteran is enjoying a late-career resurgence, hitting .260 with a .780 OPS. While not as powerful as in his prime, McCutchen’s experience and clutch hitting are invaluable to the Pirates’ lineup.
Situational Factors
The game will be held at PNC Park, a venue known for its pitcher-friendly attributes, which could help mitigate some of the offensive firepower. However, the weather forecast predicts warm temperatures around 85°F, which can assist the ball in carrying further than usual.
On the injury front, the White Sox are without their star closer, Liam Hendriks, due to a minor elbow issue. The Pirates have a relatively healthy roster, with only a few players on the 10-day injured list.
Advanced Metrics
White Sox: – wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus): At 115, the White Sox lineup is significantly above average, indicating their offensive efficiency. – FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching): Cease’s FIP of 3.00 suggests that his ERA is a fair representation of his performance, minimizing external defensive factors.
Pirates: – wRC+: The Pirates’ wRC+ is 100, exactly average, signaling a need for improvement against top-tier pitching. – WAR (Wins Above Replacement): Bryan Reynolds leads the team with a WAR of 4.2, highlighting his all-around contribution.
Prediction
Considering the current form, pitching matchups, and the game setting, I predict a close contest with the White Sox edging out the Pirates 5-3. Dylan Cease’s dominant form and the White Sox’s recent offensive surge give them a slight advantage. I’m 70% confident in this prediction, given the volatility of the Pirates’ bullpen and Chicago’s current momentum.
| Player Name | Prop | Prediction | Line | Trends | Last 3 Games | Wind | Team | Odds | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austin Gomber | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 3.5 | 3.2 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  Colorado Rockies | -125 | 07-13 |
| Austin Gomber | pitcher_strikeouts | Under | 2.5 | 2.2 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Colorado Rockies | 200 | 07-13 |
| Austin Gomber | pitcher_walks | Under | 1.5 | 1.0 | Under Hit 3/3 | Neutral | Colorado Rockies | -165 | 07-13 |
 Brandon Young | pitcher_earned_runs | Over | 2.5 | 3.0 | Over Hit 2/3 | Bad |  Baltimore Orioles | -105 | 07-13 |
| Brandon Young | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 2.5 | 4.2 | Over Hit 2/3 | Bad | Baltimore Orioles | -375 | 07-13 |
| Brandon Young | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 2.2 | Over Hit 1/3 | Bad | Baltimore Orioles | 120 | 07-13 |
 Brayan Bello | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 2.5 | 2.07 | Under Hit 2/3 | Bad |  Boston Red Sox | -105 | 07-13 |
| Brayan Bello | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 3.5 | 4.33 | Over Hit 1/3 | Bad | Boston Red Sox | -205 | 07-13 |
| Brayan Bello | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 2.27 | Over Hit 1/3 | Bad | Boston Red Sox | -160 | 07-13 |
 Clay Holmes | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 2.5 | 4.5 | Over Hit 1/3 | Neutral |  New York Mets | -205 | 07-13 |
 Cristopher Sanchez | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 1.5 | 1.72 | Under Hit 3/3 | Bad |  Philadelphia Phillies | 130 | 07-13 |
| Cristopher Sanchez | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 4.5 | 6.44 | Over Hit 3/3 | Bad | Philadelphia Phillies | -140 | 07-13 |
| Cristopher Sanchez | pitcher_walks | Under | 1.5 | 1.61 | Under Hit 3/3 | Bad | Philadelphia Phillies | -170 | 07-13 |
 Freddy Peralta | pitcher_earned_runs | Over | 1.5 | 1.68 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  Milwaukee Brewers | -170 | 07-13 |
| Freddy Peralta | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 5.5 | 5.84 | Over Hit 3/3 | Neutral | Milwaukee Brewers | -235 | 07-13 |
| Freddy Peralta | pitcher_walks | Under | 1.5 | 1.89 | Under Hit 3/3 | Neutral | Milwaukee Brewers | 125 | 07-13 |
 Hunter Brown | pitcher_earned_runs | Over | 1.5 | 1.5 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  Houston Astros | -125 | 07-13 |
| Hunter Brown | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 4.5 | 7.17 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Houston Astros | -420 | 07-13 |
| Hunter Brown | pitcher_walks | Under | 1.5 | 1.78 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Houston Astros | 110 | 07-13 |
 Jack Flaherty | pitcher_earned_runs | Over | 2.5 | 2.78 | Over Hit 2/3 | Bad |  Detroit Tigers | 110 | 07-13 |
| Jack Flaherty | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 4.5 | 6.5 | Over Hit 3/3 | Bad | Detroit Tigers | -400 | 07-13 |
| Jack Flaherty | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 2.11 | Over Hit 2/3 | Bad | Detroit Tigers | -175 | 07-13 |
 Jake Irvin | pitcher_earned_runs | Over | 2.5 | 3.11 | Over Hit 3/3 | Neutral |  Washington Nationals | -160 | 07-13 |
| Jake Irvin | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 2.5 | 4.11 | Over Hit 3/3 | Neutral | Washington Nationals | -375 | 07-13 |
| Jake Irvin | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 1.95 | Over Hit 3/3 | Neutral | Washington Nationals | -160 | 07-13 |
 Jeffrey Springs | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 2.5 | 2.37 | Under Hit 3/3 | Neutral |  Oakland Athletics | 115 | 07-13 |
| Jeffrey Springs | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 2.5 | 4.26 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Oakland Athletics | -375 | 07-13 |
| Jeffrey Springs | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 2.0 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Oakland Athletics | -190 | 07-13 |
 Joey Cantillo | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 1.5 | 0.65 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  Cleveland Guardians | 130 | 07-13 |
| Joey Cantillo | pitcher_strikeouts | Under | 3.5 | 2.09 | Under Hit 0/3 | Neutral | Cleveland Guardians | 290 | 07-13 |
| Joey Cantillo | pitcher_walks | Under | 2.5 | 0.87 | Under Hit 1/3 | Neutral | Cleveland Guardians | -190 | 07-13 |
 Jose Berrios | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 2.5 | 2.32 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  Toronto Blue Jays | 100 | 07-13 |
| Jose Berrios | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 3.5 | 5.05 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Toronto Blue Jays | -385 | 07-13 |
| Jose Berrios | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 2.05 | Over Hit 1/3 | Neutral | Toronto Blue Jays | -110 | 07-13 |
 Jose Soriano | pitcher_earned_runs | Over | 2.5 | 2.53 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  Los Angeles Angels | -105 | 07-13 |
| Jose Soriano | pitcher_strikeouts | Under | 4.5 | 5.0 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Los Angeles Angels | 104 | 07-13 |
| Jose Soriano | pitcher_walks | Over | 2.5 | 2.74 | Over Hit 1/3 | Neutral | Los Angeles Angels | -105 | 07-13 |
 Logan Gilbert | pitcher_earned_runs | Over | 1.5 | 2.09 | Over Hit 2/3 | Bad |  Seattle Mariners | -180 | 07-13 |
| Logan Gilbert | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 5.5 | 7.18 | Over Hit 2/3 | Bad | Seattle Mariners | -250 | 07-13 |
| Logan Gilbert | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 1.18 | Over Hit 2/3 | Bad | Seattle Mariners | 110 | 07-13 |
 Merrill Kelly | pitcher_earned_runs | Over | 2.5 | 2.21 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  Arizona Diamondbacks | -135 | 07-13 |
| Merrill Kelly | pitcher_strikeouts | Under | 5.5 | 5.63 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Arizona Diamondbacks | -105 | 07-13 |
| Merrill Kelly | pitcher_walks | Under | 1.5 | 1.53 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Arizona Diamondbacks | -105 | 07-13 |
 Mitch Keller | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 2.5 | 2.37 | Under Hit 3/3 | Very Poor |  Pittsburgh Pirates | -110 | 07-13 |
| Mitch Keller | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 3.5 | 4.68 | Over Hit 3/3 | Very Poor | Pittsburgh Pirates | -420 | 07-13 |
| Mitch Keller | pitcher_walks | Under | 1.5 | 1.42 | Under Hit 3/3 | Very Poor | Pittsburgh Pirates | -145 | 07-13 |
 Nathan Eovaldi | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 1.5 | 1.0 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  Texas Rangers | 130 | 07-13 |
| Nathan Eovaldi | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 3.5 | 5.73 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Texas Rangers | -385 | 07-13 |
| Nathan Eovaldi | pitcher_walks | Under | 1.5 | 0.87 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Texas Rangers | -190 | 07-13 |
 Nick Martinez | pitcher_earned_runs | Over | 2.5 | 2.85 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  Cincinnati Reds | -125 | 07-13 |
| Nick Martinez | pitcher_strikeouts | Under | 3.5 | 3.65 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Cincinnati Reds | 225 | 07-13 |
| Nick Martinez | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 1.2 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Cincinnati Reds | 160 | 07-13 |
 Nick Pivetta | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 2.5 | 1.94 | Under Hit 3/3 | Bad |  San Diego Padres | -155 | 07-13 |
| Nick Pivetta | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 5.5 | 6.33 | Over Hit 3/3 | Bad | San Diego Padres | -160 | 07-13 |
| Nick Pivetta | pitcher_walks | Under | 1.5 | 1.5 | Under Hit 2/3 | Bad | San Diego Padres | -105 | 07-13 |
 Noah Cameron | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 2.5 | 1.64 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  Kansas City Royals | -140 | 07-13 |
| Noah Cameron | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 3.5 | 4.55 | Over Hit 3/3 | Neutral | Kansas City Royals | -205 | 07-13 |
| Noah Cameron | pitcher_walks | Under | 1.5 | 1.82 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Kansas City Royals | 110 | 07-13 |
 Robbie Ray | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 2.5 | 1.74 | Under Hit 3/3 | Neutral |  San Francisco Giants | -125 | 07-13 |
| Robbie Ray | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 4.5 | 6.42 | Over Hit 3/3 | Neutral | San Francisco Giants | -275 | 07-13 |
| Robbie Ray | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 2.21 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral | San Francisco Giants | -180 | 07-13 |
 Ryan Pepiot | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 2.5 | 2.11 | Under Hit 2/3 | Bad |  Tampa Bay Rays | -105 | 07-13 |
| Ryan Pepiot | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 4.5 | 5.63 | Over Hit 2/3 | Bad | Tampa Bay Rays | -230 | 07-13 |
| Ryan Pepiot | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 1.89 | Over Hit 3/3 | Bad | Tampa Bay Rays | -145 | 07-13 |
 Shota Imanaga | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 2.5 | 1.73 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  Chicago Cubs | 105 | 07-13 |
| Shota Imanaga | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 3.5 | 3.82 | Over Hit 1/3 | Neutral | Chicago Cubs | -375 | 07-13 |
| Shota Imanaga | pitcher_walks | Under | 1.5 | 1.36 | Under Hit 3/3 | Neutral | Chicago Cubs | -165 | 07-13 |
 Simeon Woods Richardson | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 2.5 | 2.21 | Under Hit 3/3 | Very Poor |  Minnesota Twins | -165 | 07-13 |
| Simeon Woods Richardson | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 2.5 | 4.21 | Over Hit 3/3 | Very Poor | Minnesota Twins | -500 | 07-13 |
| Simeon Woods Richardson | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 1.93 | Over Hit 2/3 | Very Poor | Minnesota Twins | -135 | 07-13 |
 Sonny Gray | pitcher_earned_runs | Over | 1.5 | 2.28 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  St. Louis Cardinals | -150 | 07-13 |
| Sonny Gray | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 5.5 | 6.28 | Over Hit 3/3 | Neutral | St. Louis Cardinals | 120 | 07-13 |
| Sonny Gray | pitcher_walks | Under | 1.5 | 1.06 | Under Hit 3/3 | Neutral | St. Louis Cardinals | -140 | 07-13 |
 Will Warren | pitcher_earned_runs | Under | 2.5 | 2.47 | Under Hit 2/3 | Neutral |  New York Yankees | -150 | 07-13 |
| Will Warren | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 3.5 | 5.84 | Over Hit 3/3 | Neutral | New York Yankees | -385 | 07-13 |
| Will Warren | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 2.16 | Over Hit 3/3 | Neutral | New York Yankees | -200 | 07-13 |
 Yoshinobu Yamamoto | pitcher_earned_runs | Over | 1.5 | 1.67 | Over Hit 1/3 | Neutral |  Los Angeles Dodgers | -155 | 07-13 |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | pitcher_strikeouts | Over | 4.5 | 6.06 | Over Hit 2/3 | Neutral | Los Angeles Dodgers | -240 | 07-13 |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | pitcher_walks | Over | 1.5 | 1.89 | Over Hit 1/3 | Neutral | Los Angeles Dodgers | -160 | 07-13 |
