White Sox vs. Guardians Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, May 18, 2023

May 18, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

The Chicago White Sox (16-28), led by Jake Burger on a three-game home run streak, are -146 favorites on the moneyline to defeat the Cleveland Guardians (19-23). First pitch is set for 2:10 PM ET Thursday, live from Guaranteed Rate Field and airing on NBCS-CHI.

Dylan Cease will get the ball for Chicago while Cleveland will counter with Logan Allen.

White Sox vs. Guardians Odds

White Sox odds to win: -146
Guardians odds to win: +125
Spread: White Sox -1.5
Total: 7.5 runs

White Sox vs. Guardians Promo Codes

DRAFTKINGS MLB Promo
Bet $5, Win $150 BONUS BETS

BET NOW!
CAESARS MLB Promo
Get Up To $1,500 in Bet Credits
BET NOW!
FANDUEL MLB Promo
Bet $5 Get $200
BET NOW!
BETMGM MLB Promo
$1K First Bet Offer
BET NOW!

Game Time and Information

Date: Thursday, May 18, 2023
Time: 2:10 PM ET
TV: NBCS-CHI

Exclusive Apple TV Friday Night Baseball Pass
Sign Up to Watch Friday Night Baseball Exclusive on Apple TV+
Watch 7 Days For Free

Who Will Win White Sox vs. Guardians?

White Sox and Guardians Betting Trends

The White Sox have been the moneyline favorite 13 total times this season. They’ve finished 7-6 in those games.

Chicago has played as moneyline favorites of -146 or shorter in just one game this season, which it lost.

The Guardians have been underdogs in 15 games this season and won seven (46.7%) of those contests.

Cleveland has a record of 2-2 when it’s set as an underdog of +125 or more by sportsbooks this season.

In the 43 games in which oddsmakers have set an over/under for the White Sox, they have combined with opponents to go over the total 23 times (23-17-3).

Games involving the Guardians have gone over the total set by oddsmakers in 16 of 41 chances this season.

White Sox Stats & Insights

The White Sox have the No. 17 offense in MLB action scoring 4.3 runs per game (190 total runs).

Chicago averages 1.1 home runs per game to rank 15th in MLB action with 50 total home runs .

The White Sox’s .244 batting average ranks 16th in MLB.

Chicago’s 8.4 strikeouts per game rank 12th in MLB.

The White Sox pitching staff is third in the majors with a collective 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Chicago has a 5.32 team ERA that ranks 29th among all MLB pitching staffs.

Guardians Stats & Insights

The Guardians have scored 147 runs (just 3.5 per game) this season, which ranks 29th in MLB.

Cleveland ranks last in Major League Baseball with just 23 home runs as a team.

The Guardians have a team batting average of just .227 this season, which ranks 28th among MLB teams.

Cleveland is one of the best teams in baseball at making contact this season, ranking second with an average of 7.5 strikeouts per game.

The Guardians have a 7.5 K/9 this season as a pitching staff, which ranks 29th in baseball.

Cleveland has the ninth-best ERA (3.88) in the majors this season.

White Sox Key Players to Watch

Cease (2-2) gets the starting nod for the White Sox in his 10th start of the season. He’s put together a 4.86 ERA in 46 1/3 innings pitched, with 54 strikeouts.

Luis Robert leads Chicago in home runs this season with 12 while driving in 28 runs.

Andrew Vaughn leads Chicago in runs batted in with 31 while batting .242 with five homers.

Andrew Benintendi is slashing .277/.337/.348 this season for the White Sox.

Burger has 22 hits and an OBP of .348 to go with a slugging percentage of .747 this season.

Guardians Key Players to Watch

Allen (1-1) will take the mound for the Guardians, his fifth start of the season.

Steven Kwan has nine doubles, a triple, a home run and 24 walks while batting .276.

Josh Naylor has put his power on display as he paces his team with six home runs and 26 runs batted in.

Josh Bell is batting .226 with 10 doubles, three home runs and 26 walks.

Andres Gimenez is batting .231 with seven doubles, a triple, three home runs and eight walks.

White Sox and Guardians Injuries

White Sox: Elvis Andrus: 10 Day IL (Oblique), Billy Hamilton: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Eloy Jiménez: 10 Day IL (Appendix), Liam Hendriks: 15 Day IL (Illness), Matt Foster: 60 Day IL (Forearm)

Guardians: Aaron Civale: 15 Day IL (Oblique), Triston McKenzie: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Cody Morris: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Josh Naylor: day-to-day (Leg)