White Sox vs Pirates predictions
If you’re looking at the Chicago White Sox heading into this matchup at PNC Park, a few names stand out for possible impact. Andrew Benintendi is a guy I’d keep my eye on—he’s shown flashes of power and can definitely get on base, so I could see him contributing with a hit or two, maybe even driving in a run if he gets the right pitch. Miguel Vargas, though his average isn’t too high, seems capable of finding ways to make some noise, perhaps sneaking in a double or coaxing a walk. It’ll be interesting to see how rookie Colson Montgomery handles the Pirates’ pitching; he’s got the potential to grab a hit and get things moving for Chicago’s lineup. As for Jonathan Cannon on the mound, he could deliver a solid outing—expecting him to keep the White Sox in the game for about five innings while limiting big damage isn’t a stretch.
Turning to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the buzz right now is all about Isiah Kiner-Falefa. After a monster four-hit game, he’s clearly dialed in at the plate, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him continuing that momentum with a couple of hits and maybe swiping a base if he gets the chance. Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz are always threats—both bring a mix of pop and speed, so I could see Reynolds driving in a run and Cruz giving the crowd something to cheer about with an extra-base hit. Andrew McCutchen, the veteran presence in the lineup, looks like he could chip in both offensively and with his leadership in the dugout. On the mound, Bailey Falter will be looking to set the tone early, and with his recent command, I’d expect him to give the Pirates another quality start.
Looking at both sides, the edge feels like it tilts toward the Pirates this time around. With Kiner-Falefa riding that hot streak and a more favorable home record at PNC Park, the Pirates have a great opportunity to keep their momentum rolling, especially if their bats can keep finding holes. The White Sox have their moments, but when you pair up the way Pittsburgh’s lineup has been trending with the energy Falter brings to the mound, it’s hard not to lean black and gold for this matchup. It’s baseball, so anything can happen—but don’t be shocked if the Bucs come away with the win here.
