San Diego Padres at Chicago White Sox odds, picks and predictions
The San Diego Padres (79-80) and Chicago White Sox (61-98) open a 3-game set Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Padres vs. White Sox odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting since White Sox won last season’s series 2-1
The Padres won 5-2 as +103 underdogs at the San Francisco Giants Wednesday as the Under (9) hit. San Diego is still mathematically alive for the last NL Wild Card.
The Padres can make the postseason if the following 4 things happen: They sweep the White Sox, the Chicago Cubs go 0-3 at the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cincinnati Reds go either 1-2 or 0-3 at the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Miami Marlins finish the season 0-4 — which would include blowing a 2-1 lead in their suspended game at the New York Mets.
The White Sox won 3-1 as +165 home underdogs vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday as the Under (9) cashed. White Sox 1B Andrew Vaughn and 3B Yoán Moncada both homered as Chicago avoided a 3rd straight loss.
Padres at White Sox projected starters
RHP Nick Martinez vs. RHP Dylan Cease
Martinez (5-4, 3.59 ERA) makes his 9th start and 63rd appearance. He has a 1.28 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 8.4 K/9 in 105 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K in 5-2 home loss in 11 innings vs. Cardinals Saturday
- 2023 road stats: 2-3, 5.02 ERA (43 IP, 24 ER) in 4 starts and 25 relief appearances
- Career vs. White Sox: 0-4, 8.44 ERA (16 IP, 15 ER) in 3 starts and 3 relief appearances — last faced Chicago in 2022 and as a starter in 2015
Cease (7-8, 4.66 ERA) makes his 33rd start. He has a 1.42 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9 and 10.8 K/9 in 172 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 7 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 11 K in 1-0 victory at Boston Red Sox Saturday
- 2023 home stats: 3-6, 4.33 ERA (89 1/3 IP, 43 ER) in 16 starts
- Career vs. Padres: Loss, 5 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 5 K in 1 start, a 5-2 road loss Oct. 1, 2022
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Padres at White Sox odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:33 a.m. ET.
Padres at White Sox picks and predictions
Prediction
Padres 5, White Sox 3
The PADRES (-145) have a less than 1 percent chance of making the postseason but can stay mathematically alive for another day as long as they win Friday, and the Marlins and Cubs both lose. San Diego has won 11 of its last 13 games and has proven that it’s taking this improbable postseason push seriously.
The White Sox have lost 5 of their last 8 games and were outscored 19-7 in their 3-game series vs. the Diamondbacks.
BET PADRES (-145).
Friday’s Marlins at Pittsburgh Pirates game (6:35 p.m. ET) is expected to finish before this one and may influence the outcome on this run line. If the Marlins win and eliminate the Padres, we may see San Diego lose interest in maintaining a multiple-run lead.
PASS. Bet the moneyline and/or the total instead.
The Under is 46-29-3 (61.3%) this season when the Padres are coming off a win, according to TeamRankings.com.
The Under has also hit in 8 of Chicago’s last 10 games and should cash again as the White Sox continue to struggle offensively.
