Game Details:
Matchup: White Sox vs. Pirates
Date & Time: Sunday, July 20, 2025 | 6:35 PM ET
Venue: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Betting Line: Pirates -130 | Over/Under: 8.5
Key Storylines
Pirates Look to Stay Hot at Home
Pittsburgh has been one of the more pleasant surprises this season, particularly at home where they’ve pieced together an impressive 7-3 record over their last 10 games at PNC Park. Tonight, they’ll look to continue that trend against a rebuilding White Sox squad struggling in nearly every phase of the game.
White Sox Reeling Amidst Tough Stretch
The White Sox enter this matchup having lost six of their last seven games, mostly due to inconsistent pitching and a lack of run support. Currently sitting near the bottom of the AL standings, Chicago is trying to avoid a sweep after losing the first two games in this series.
Pitching Matchup
The White Sox are expected to send righty Michael Kopech (3-9, 5.43 ERA) to the mound, who continues to struggle mightily with command issues and long balls. He’ll face off against Pittsburgh’s newcomer Quinn Priester (4-4, 4.66 ERA), who has strung together quality starts in two of his last three outings and seems to be growing more comfortable in the big leagues.
Injury Report
White Sox:
Out: Luis Robert Jr. (hip), Yoán Moncada (oblique), Garrett Crochet (shoulder)
Questionable: Eloy Jiménez (hamstring)
Pirates:
Out: Oneil Cruz (leg), JT Brubaker (elbow), David Bednar (back)
Betting Trends
- White Sox are 2-8 in their last 10 games overall.
- Pirates are 7-3 in their last 10 home games.
- The total has gone under in 6 of the last 8 White Sox games.
- Pirates are 5-1 in their last 6 games against teams with a losing record.
Player Prop to Watch
Andrew McCutchen (Pirates) – Hits + Runs + RBIs: 1.5 Total
McCutchen has been steady at the top of the Pirates lineup and has recorded a hit in 9 of his last 11 games. With Kopech’s ERA ballooning, this is a good matchup for him to stuff the box score.
Prediction & Best Bets
Spread: Pirates -1.5 (+145) → Given Kopech’s inconsistencies and Pittsburgh’s solid form at home, this line provides decent value.
Total: Under 8.5 → Both teams rank in the bottom five for runs scored this season, and Pittsburgh’s pitching has been quietly effective.
Player Prop: Andrew McCutchen Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs → He’s in good form and faces a struggling starter.
Final Score Prediction: Pirates 5, White Sox 2