Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians are set for Game 5 of the ALDS on Saturday night at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
The White Sox took the first two games of the series 3-0 and 4-3 in Cleveland, but then the Guardians responded with emphatic 9-3 and 9-5 wins in Chicago to force this winner-take-all Game 5.
The Tampa Bay Rays await the winner of this contest in the ALCS. With both teams in win-or-go-home mode, this matchup is sure to deliver plenty of fireworks.
First pitch is slated for 8 p.m. ET on TBS.
White Sox vs. Guardians betting picks and predictions
White Sox ML (+117)
The road team has won each of the first four games in this series, and that trend could be in a great spot to continue in the series finale.
The White Sox will hand the ball to Sean Burke with their season on the line. The 26-year-old right-hander enjoyed a strong 2026 regular season, as he went 11-7 with a 3.34 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over the course of 27 starts and 172.1 innings of work.
Along with being a steady force on the mound all season long, Burke was extremely effective against the Guardians.
In three starts against Cleveland this season, Burke went 2-0 with a minuscule 1.04 ERA over 17.1 innings of work. The White Sox went 3-0 in those games, with two coming on the road. Burke was also strong in Game 2 of this series, as he tossed 5.1 innings of one-run ball while allowing just a single hit and striking out six.
Cleveland’s Gavin Williams will oppose Burke on the mound. Williams just made a surprise relief appearance in Game 4, closing out Cleveland’s 9-5 win by getting the final three outs. Now set to start just two days later, that puts him in an unfamiliar spot. That uncertainty could be viewed as worrisome for the Guardians.
Given Burke’s success against the Guardians, take the plus-money odds with the White Sox on the moneyline.
Under 7 (+100)
Winner-take-all postseason games tend to push managers to use every possible avenue to gain an advantage. That often means utilizing the bullpen early and often in order to get the best matchups and prevent the opposing offense from getting into a rhythm at the plate. This matchup should be no different.
Both starting pitchers have posted strong numbers all season long, and both bullpens have been among the best in baseball. During the regular season, Cleveland ranked 6th in MLB with a bullpen ERA of 3.54, while Chicago wasn’t far behind, ranking 8th with a 3.70 bullpen ERA. After an off day on Friday, both bullpens will be rested and ready to roll.
Just 10 total runs were scored across Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland, and Game 5 should produce another low-scoring result.
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White Sox vs. Guardians odds
Chicago White Sox | +117 |
Cleveland Guardians | -137 |
Run Line | CLE Guardians -1.5 |
Total | O/U 7.0 |
White Sox vs. Guardians player props
Home run odds
Munetaka Murakami (CHI White Sox) | +375 |
Colson Montgomery (CHI White Sox) | +500 |
Jo Adell (CLE Guardians) | +550 |
Chase DeLauter (CLE Guardians) | +575 |
Miguel Vargas (CHI White Sox) | +600 |
Jose Ramirez (CLE Guardians) | +650 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
