Atlanta Braves vs Chicago White Sox Picks and Prediction for Thursday, August 20, 2026
The Atlanta Braves visit the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Thursday, with the first pitch at 2:10 PM ET in a makeup of the June 11 postponement. Atlanta is 74-52, first in the NL East, and 32-29 on the road after a 4-1 loss to Minnesota in its most recent completed game. The Braves have lost four of their last five. Chicago is 65-60, first in the AL Central, and 37-24 at home after a 4-3 loss to the Cubs. The White Sox have won three of five. Check out this matchup with our free MLB picks.
Atlanta Braves Look to Reverse Recent Slide
Atlanta is batting .247 with a .311 on-base percentage and .416 slugging percentage while scoring 602 runs and hitting 167 home runs. Matt Olson leads the Braves with 36 home runs and 77 RBIs while batting .262 with a .339 OBP and .547 slugging percentage. Michael Harris II leads Atlanta with a .292 average and 133 hits, while Drake Baldwin is batting .278 with 21 homers. The Braves have struggled recently, scoring only 11 runs over their last five games.
Atlanta owns a 3.65 team ERA and 1.24 WHIP while holding opposing hitters to a .231 batting average. The Braves have recorded 1,078 strikeouts against 430 walks and have allowed 164 home runs. Recent pitching has generally kept Atlanta competitive despite the losses. The Braves have surrendered 23 runs across their last five games, allowing four runs in each of their last two contests against Minnesota. Atlanta has held opponents to four runs or fewer in four of its last five games.
Injuries: Joe Jimenez (60-Day IL), Reynaldo Lopez (15-Day IL), Robert Suarez (15-Day IL), Spencer Strider (60-Day IL), Spencer Schwellenbach (60-Day IL).
Chicago White Sox Return Home After Two Losses
Chicago is batting .239 with a .319 on-base percentage and .411 slugging percentage while scoring 602 runs and hitting 167 home runs. Munetaka Murakami leads the White Sox with 29 home runs and owns a team-best .372 OBP and .917 OPS. Miguel Vargas has added 28 homers and a team-high 72 RBIs, while Chase Meidroth leads Chicago with a .275 average and 122 hits. The White Sox scored 25 runs across their last five games, reaching at least four runs four times.
Chicago carries a 4.11 team ERA and 1.30 WHIP while opponents are batting .239. The White Sox have recorded 1,053 strikeouts and allowed 138 home runs. Chicago surrendered 14 runs across two losses to the Cubs after allowing 13 total runs during three consecutive victories at Detroit. The White Sox have been considerably better at home, carrying a 37-24 record at Rate Field compared with a 28-36 mark away from Chicago entering Thursday’s makeup contest.
Injuries: Drew Thorpe (60-Day IL), Prelander Berroa (60-Day IL), Chris Murphy (15-Day IL), Ky Bush (60-Day IL), Davis Martin (15-Day IL).
Pitching Matchup
Atlanta Braves – Grant Holmes
Holmes is 7-5 with a 3.82 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 117.2 innings. The right-hander has allowed 108 hits, 51 walks and 19 home runs while striking out 97. Holmes faces a Chicago lineup ranked 22nd in MLB with a .239 batting average but carrying several power threats.Â
Chicago White Sox – Anthony Kay
Kay is 9-5 with a 4.01 ERA and 1.34 WHIP through 121.1 innings. The left-hander has allowed 119 hits, 44 walks and 16 home runs while recording 98 strikeouts. Atlanta ranks 11th in MLB with a .247 batting average and has also hit 167 home runs.Â
Atlanta Braves vs Chicago White Sox Game Pick
- Atlanta Braves
Atlanta is the game pick behind the stronger overall pitching staff and a small starting advantage with Holmes. The Braves own a 3.65 team ERA and 1.24 WHIP, compared with Chicago’s 4.11 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Holmes also carries a 3.82 ERA against Kay’s 4.01 mark. Chicago has the better recent offensive form and strong home record, but Atlanta has enough power through Olson, Baldwin and Harris to respond. The Braves’ pitching advantage is the deciding factor Thursday afternoon.
Atlanta Braves vs Chicago White Sox Over/Under Pick
- Under
The under is the total pick with Atlanta’s recent games producing modest scoring and both starters carrying ERAs near four. Four of the Braves’ last five games have finished with eight combined runs or fewer, with Atlanta scoring only 11 runs during that span. Holmes owns a 3.82 ERA, while Kay enters with a 4.01 ERA and has allowed 16 home runs through 121.1 innings. Chicago’s recent offense creates some risk, but Atlanta’s pitching staff has consistently limited opponents lately. Take the under.