Chicago White Sox vs San Diego Padres Picks and Predictions September 20th 2025

Padres vs White Sox Picks and Predictions — September 20, 2025

The San Diego Padres continue their playoff chase on Saturday night when they visit the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Padres (83-71) are battling for a wild card spot but have slipped four games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The White Sox (58-96) snapped a six-game losing streak Friday with a 4-3 win, highlighted by Miguel Vargas’ two-run homer and a strong bullpen showing. San Diego will try to regroup behind veteran Yu Darvish, while Chicago counters with Yoendrys Gómez.

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Opening odds:

• Moneyline: Padres −169, White Sox +142
• Total (Over/Under): 8.5 runs

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Padres Can Win If…

• Yu Darvish limits the long ball. The veteran has surrendered a homer in eight straight starts, but when sharp, he can give San Diego innings against a light-hitting White Sox lineup.
• Their offense capitalizes early. The Padres have trailed after the first inning in 11 of their last 32 games, something manager Mike Shildt has called out as a problem.
• Manny Machado and Luis Arraez set the tone. Machado (26 HR, 92 RBI) provides pop, while Arraez is on an eight-game hitting streak batting .375 in that span.

“We’ve got to figure out a way to get on top of the game and play with a little more rhythm,” manager Mike Shildt said.

White Sox Can Win If…

• Yoendrys Gómez builds on his recent outing. The 25-year-old righty allowed just two runs in five innings against Cleveland last week, showing he can keep games close.
• The lineup finds power again. Chicago has 155 homers on the season, led by Lenyn Sosa and Andrew Benintendi (20 each). Vargas’ clutch homer Friday is the type of boost they’ll need again.
• Young contributors step up. Rookie catcher Kyle Teel is batting .315 with 6 HR in his last 26 games, providing spark to an otherwise thin lineup.

“When he throws strikes, he’s really effective … he’s been getting some good results,” manager Will Venable said of Gómez.

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Key MLB Betting Trends

The Lean

Pick: Padres Moneyline (−169)
Projected Final Score: Padres 5, White Sox 3
Total Lean: Under 8.5

Reasoning: San Diego’s superior pitching staff and deeper lineup give them the edge, even with Darvish’s inconsistency. Chicago showed fight in Friday’s opener, but their lack of depth and poor bullpen numbers leave them vulnerable. Expect the Padres to bounce back and even the series in a lower-scoring game.

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