MLB Baseball
2026-06-16 - Chicago White Sox at New York Yankees
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Tuesday 16th June 2026 - Scheduled 7:05pm EST
00:05am (British Time)
Preview
Fears that Aaron Judge would miss the rest of the 2026 season have been dampened, but it is clear that he will not be rushed back unless the New York Yankees (43-27) are still pushing for a Playoff run. The loss of the Captain will always hurt, but the Yankees have continued to insist they have enough about them to get through the next couple of months and the 7-4 record without Aaron Judge has moved them 1.5 games clear in the American League East.
They will be returning home after a very good road trip that saw the New York Yankees take five of six games against the Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays. Another tough series is coming up in the Bronx when the Yankees host the Chicago White Sox (38-32) who have been one of the surprising teams of the season through to mid-June.
Four wins in five games have allowed the White Sox to move alongside the aforementioned Guardians for the lead in the American League Central. This is a team that have not had a winning record since 2021, while the White Sox have not won more than 61 games in any of the last three seasons, but the expectation was some improvement.
However, no one could have expected this kind of start to the 2026 season and the Chicago White Sox players will be looking to continue to make statements to the rest of the League.
They will give the ball to Davis Martin who has a 9-2 record and 2.41 ERA this season and one more decision win would make him the first Chicago starter to have at least ten wins in a season since 2022. That underlines the kind of decline we have seen from the White Sox, but Martin and the team are rallying and playing with confidence.
Davis Martin has continued to display his development into what is now his fourth season in the Major League and his ERA has improved year on year with 2026 set to be another jump. Even when he has been rocked in 2026, Davis Martin has bounced back with real authority and that is keeping the White Sox moving forward.
Earlier this month Davis Martin gave up six runs and did not get out of the 5th Inning against Divisional rivals Minnesota Twins, but the next start saw the pitcher go 6 Innings without giving up a run and picking up the latest decision win.
This is the first time Davis Martin will be facing the New York Yankees this season and he brings in a 0-0 record and 4.61 ERA against them from the previous three starts.
The Yankees will counter with Gerrit Cole who has a 1-1 record and 2.45 ERA in four starts made on the comeback trail.
Both starts in June have come against the Cleveland Guardians and Gerrit Cole has allowed six runs in just over 9 Innings pitched having made his return by producing back to back scoreless starts.
Gerrit Cole has a 3-2 record and 4.18 ERA in five career starts against the White Sox, but injury and scheduling means he has not faced them since 2023.
Prediction
This should be a competitive game between two Divisional leaders in the American League who are both playing with confidence, despite key pieces of the batting lineup missing out.
Davis Martin and Gerrit Cole have both pitched well, but they have also had a couple of rougher outings in recent starts.
Both will feel they can give the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees a foundation for success in the opener of this series, but the Yankees bullpen may be more ready to close things out and that gives the home team a chance to continue the recent positive momentum.
The Pick :
New York Yankees 4-3 Chicago White Sox
