The Chicago Cubs will look for a bounce-back start from Shota Imanaga as they host the Chicago White Sox in the first game of the Crosstown Classic on Tuesday night.
The Cubs (29-31) come in as huge favorites in the MLB odds over the woeful White Sox (15-45), who have the worst record and worst run differential in the league.
Find out why my MLB picks are expecting Imanaga to deal in my free White Sox vs. Cubs predictions for June 4.
White Sox vs Cubs prediction
My best bet
Shota Imanaga Over 6.5 strikeouts (-105 at DraftKings)
Best odds available in your region
My analysis
Shota Imanaga was off to an incredible start to the year before the Milwaukee Brewers lit him up for seven runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings of work on May 29.
Even with that start factored in, however, Shota’s season-long numbers are still incredible. The Chicago Cubs lefty is 5-1 with a 1.86 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He’s had little trouble finishing at-bats against MLB competition, averaging 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings. He gets extreme movement on his pitches, yet manages to mostly work in the strike zone, walking few hitters while inducing plenty of chases when he decides to throw elsewhere.
If there’s one concern about Imanaga heading into tonight’s game, it would be that last start. However, that outing was not only an outlier compared to his previous MLB and NPB bodies of work, but also comes with an important caveat: it came on 11 days of rest. While Imanaga didn’t blame the long layoff for his poor outing, it’s notable that this is the first time he’s had such a gap.
Now back on essentially normal rest, Imanaga gets to work on his stuff against the worst lineup in the majors. The Chicago White Sox are somehow averaging only 2.87 runs per game, nearly a run lower than the next worst team (the Miami Marlins, at 3.65). The Sox are hitting .214 with a .607 OPS; they are last in MLB in each of those categories, as well as both on-base percentage and slugging.
The White Sox are merely below average when it comes to making contact, striking out in 23.4% of their plate appearances. Combine Imanaga’s ability to put away hitters and the fact that he’ll rarely (if ever) feel threatened by the White Sox lineup, and he should be able to add to his prodigious numbers tonight.
White Sox vs Cubs same-game parlay (SGP)
Shota Imanaga Over 6.5 strikeouts
Cubs moneyline
Under 9.5
Imanaga should have little trouble bouncing back from his last start and shutting down the White Sox tonight, which makes for an easy same-game parlay.
To round out our SGP, let’s add in a Cubs win and take the full game Under, as 9.5 is a big total considering the Cubs have eclipsed that number just once in Imanaga’s first 10 MLB starts.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
White Sox vs Cubs odds
White Sox vs Cubs live odds
White Sox vs Cubs opening odds
- Run line: Chicago +1.5 (+125) | Chicago -1.5 (-155)
- Moneyline: Chicago +230 | Chicago -275
- Over/Under: Over 9 (-105) | Under 9 (-115)
White Sox vs Cubs spread and Over/Under analysis
- The White Sox have been one of the worst teams in the majors on the moneyline this year, having lost nearly 22 units for bettors in their first 60 games.
- Chicago has lost 11 straight games, all as betting underdogs.
- Both teams have the same record vs. the total this year, with the Under holding a 30-27 edge in each case.
- The Cubs have gone Under the total of 8.0 in seven of Imanaga’s last eight starts.
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White Sox vs Cubs trend
Imanaga has struck out at least seven batters in five of his last six starts. Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Cubs
White Sox vs Cubs game info
| Location: | Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL |
| Date: | Tuesday, 6-4-2024 |
| First pitch: | 8:05 p.m. ET |
| TV: | NBCSCH, MARQ |
| White Sox starting pitcher: | Chris Flexen (2-5, 5.50 ERA) |
| Cubs starting pitcher: | Shota Imanaga (5-1, 1.86 ERA) |
White Sox vs Cubs latest injuries
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