Bryan Armetta offers up a preview, prediction and pick for Thursday’s MLB game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees.
Two straight wins have the Yankees (45-27) eyeing a sweep this evening in the Bronx. Following an up-and-down month of May, New York has re-taken control of the American League East. As for the White Sox (38-34), a surprise season has hit a speed bump against some of baseball’s elite teams. Salvaging a game on the road would give this young Chicago squad a boost going into the weekend.
The Yankees are favorites (-171) over the White Sox, with the over/under set at 9.5 runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Thursday’s matchup between Chicago and New York on DraftKings Sportsbook.
In spite of the past two days, it’s been a terrific 2026 on the South Side. The White Sox, even without leading slugger Munetaka Murakami (hamstring), have powered their way to the top of the AL Central. As a unit, they’re averaging the seventh-most runs per game in baseball (4.72). To boot, Chicago has smacked more homers (100) than any AL club other than the Yankees. Last night, it was Colson Montgomery that went yard twice. The third baseman is slashing .225/.319/.502 with 19 dingers and 44 RBIs. He’s joined by fellow standouts Miguel Vargas (136 wRC+) and Sam Antonacci (122 wRC+). The White Sox have posted a .769 OPS against left-handed pitching, third-best in the majors.
Facing off against Chicago tonight will be Ryan Weathers. Acquired this offseason from Miami, the southpaw has been a nice pickup for the Pinstripes. With that being said, he’s hit a rough patch in recent weeks. Over his previous five starts, Weathers is on the hook for a 6.44 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. During that stretch, the 26-year-old has given up nine home runs. Weathers sits inside the sixth percentile among qualified pitchers with a lackluster 12.0% barrel rate. As previously mentioned, the White Sox love hitting lefties and clobbering long balls.
Granted, it’s not as if the visitors are flawless on the mound. Sean Burke is one of the team’s better arms, although that’s more a reflection of Chicago’s lackluster pitching staff. Through 73.2 innings (11 starts), the third-year pro has recorded a 4.15 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 73 strikeouts (8.9 K/9). Length has proven to be an issue for the right-hander; he’s failed to throw more than 4.2 innings in five of his last seven outings. Burke’s approach will be something to keep an eye on tonight. His most-used off-speed pitch is the curveball, which Yankees batters have struggled to hit. New York has had far more success against the slider, another key weapon at Burke’s disposal.
Even if Chicago keeps the Yankees somewhat at bay, this group has a knack for making pitchers work. Their 4.29 walks per game lead all of baseball this season. In comparison, Burke owns a career 3.9 BB/9 ratio. Even without Aaron Judge (ribs), there’s more than enough quality hitters in New York’s lineup. The Bronx Bombers have tallied 65 runs over their previous ten contests, third-most in the majors during that time. One hitter to keep an eye on is Cody Bellinger; the outfielder is slashing .314/.351/.529 in the month of June.
Right now, it’s impossible to trust Weathers. His propensity for giving up homers makes pitching at Yankee Stadium a dangerous proposition. That’s before factoring in a powerful White Sox lineup. Burke is a decent arm, but I’d be surprised if he manages to navigate New York’s lineup unscathed. Expect these two postseason contenders to put up some runs tonight.
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