White Sox vs Pirates MLB Player Prop Picks (Jul 18)

The Chicago White Sox (32–65) travel to PNC Park to face the underperforming Pittsburgh Pirates (39–58) in the opener of their post–All‑Star break series. Jonathan Cannon (3–7, 4.44 ERA) pitches for Chicago, while Bailey Falter (6–4, 3.79 ERA) toes the rubber for Pittsburgh. Both teams are struggling offensively, but the Pirates boast a strong defense and marginally better pitching, setting up a fun player prop showdown.

• Pirates are –170 moneyline favorites, with the over/under at 8.5 runs and Pittsburgh giving up just 2 runs or fewer in the first 5 innings in most home starts.
• White Sox are +140 live dogs today, carrying a road record of just 11–36 and known for rolling out weak offense against lefties.
• Both teams rank near the bottom in team OPS and runs per game (PIT: 3.3; CWS below .500 OPS).

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Pick: Oneil Cruz

Oneil Cruz’s power upside is worth tracking here—he’s slugging .414 with 16 homers this season and has gone deep in recent outings. Cannon is a veteran contact pitcher but tends to leak long balls, making Cruz a solid bet for a big swing.

• Cruz is slashing .214/.320/.414 with 16 HR on the year.
• Face-off against Cannon, with a 1.44 WHIP and recent susceptibility to power.
• Pirates have 61% win probability, indicating offensive confidence at home.

Chicago White Sox Player Prop Pick: Andrew Benintendi

Andrew Benintendi is Chicago’s most consistent bat and offers solid value against Falter, who has allowed base hits at a high clip. Even in a down season, Benintendi has shown the ability to contribute hits consistently.

• Batting .233/.297/.429 with 11 HR this season—one of the few reliable White Sox bats.
• Falter carries a 1.20 WHIP and has yielded hits in 7 of his last 8 starts.
• Benintendi goes against lefty Falter this time, increasing his hit projection.