New York Mets vs Chicago White Sox Picks and Prediction for Sunday August 23, 2026

The New York Mets will visit the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday, August 23, 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET with coverage on MLB.TV. New York enters the weekend at 58-71 overall and 28-36 on the road, while Chicago is 67-61 overall with an impressive 38-25 home record. The White Sox took the series opener 6-4, while the Mets have won three of their last five overall. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Bettors looking for more Sunday baseball predictions can also check out our free MLB picks.

Starting Pitchers

Nolan McLean is expected to start for New York and enters at 9-8 with a 3.34 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 142.2 innings. McLean has allowed only 111 hits while striking out 162 and walking 54, with 15 home runs allowed. Chicago had not announced its starting pitcher at the time of this writing, leaving the White Sox with considerably more uncertainty on the mound heading into Sunday's matchup.

Mets Have a Starting Pitching Edge

New York enters Sunday at 58-71 overall with a 28-36 road record. The Mets have been inconsistent recently but have managed to win three of their last five games. They recently earned victories of 4-3, 2-1 and 4-2 before dropping the series opener against Chicago 6-4.

The Mets are batting .235 with 535 runs, 1,017 hits and 156 home runs. They carry a .306 on-base percentage and .388 slugging percentage. On the pitching side, New York owns a 4.08 team ERA, 1.30 WHIP and .237 opponent batting average. The staff has also recorded 1,160 strikeouts.

New York's biggest advantage Sunday could come at the beginning of the game. The Mets have a confirmed starter carrying a 3.34 ERA, strong strikeout numbers and a relatively low hit rate. With Chicago's starter still undecided, New York has the more dependable pitching situation entering the matchup.

White Sox Continue to Thrive at Rate Field

Chicago comes into the game at 67-61 and sits atop the American League Central. The White Sox have been particularly effective at home, going 38-25 at Rate Field. They have split their last five games between three losses and two victories, but one of those wins came against New York in Friday's 6-4 series opener.

Chicago has produced the better offensive numbers this season. The White Sox are batting .237 with 611 runs, 1,022 hits and 171 home runs. Their .317 on-base percentage and .409 slugging percentage also exceed New York's marks, giving Chicago advantages in run production, power and overall offensive efficiency.

The pitching numbers are remarkably close. Chicago owns a 4.06 ERA and 1.29 WHIP compared with New York's 4.08 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. The White Sox have also held opponents to a .238 average. Chicago's season-long profile and strong home record are attractive, but Sunday's undecided starter makes backing the White Sox somewhat more difficult.

New York Mets vs Chicago White Sox Picks and Prediction

Pick: New York Mets Moneyline

This is a close matchup, but New York gets the slight nod because of its advantage in the starting pitching department. The White Sox have clearly been the better team over the full season and have an excellent 38-25 home record, but Chicago's undecided starter creates enough uncertainty to shift the value toward the Mets. New York has a starter with a 3.34 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 142.2 innings, giving the visitors an opportunity to control the early portion of the game. Take the Mets on the moneyline.

Pick: Under 8.5

Take the Under if the total is set at 8.5. New York has scored only 535 runs through 129 games, and its .235 batting average, .306 OBP and .388 slugging percentage point toward an offense that has struggled to generate consistent production. The White Sox have considerably better offensive numbers, but New York's starting pitching gives it a chance to contain Chicago. With the two clubs also carrying nearly identical team ERAs around 4.00, an 8.5 provides enough room to lean toward the Under.

Side Pick: New York Mets Moneyline

Total Pick: Under 8.5

Game Preview completed prior to play on Saturday.