MLB Baseball
2026-06-17 - Chicago White Sox at New York Yankees
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Wednesday 17th June 2026 - Scheduled 7:05pm EST
00:05am (British Time)
Preview
The absence of Aaron Judge will be a talking point in New York City over the next couple of months, but the New York Yankees (44-27) will quieten any concerns if they continue to play as they have been. A big Offensive output helped them win the opening of this series with the Chicago White Sox (38-33) and pushed the Yankees 2.5 games clear in the American League East.
It has been seventeen years since the New York Yankees last won the World Series and every season is 'all or bust' as far as the fans and sports writers are concerned.
For a team used to winning it all, the fact the Yankees have been to one World Series since 2009 is simply not good enough, but this current group are showing there is plenty of depth and talent to end the long wait for a Championship.
They will give the ball to Carlos Rodon in this start and the pitcher has put together a 2-2 record and 3.19 ERA in six starts in 2026. Injury meant joining the rotation later than planned, but Carlos Rodon continues to show why he is a key member of the starting rotation and the Yankees have a powerful pitching team that could take them very far this season.
Carlos Rodon allowed three runs in 6 Innings thrown last time out against the Cleveland Guardians, but picked up his second decision win of the season. It is only the second time in six starts where Rodon has allowed more than two runs, while he is unbeaten in three starts and has a 2-0 record across those.
He pitched twice against the Chicago White Sox last season and Carlos Rodon allowed four runs in 12 Innings as he helped set the table for a couple of New York wins.
The White Sox will counter by handing the ball to Anthony Kay who has a 6-1 record in fourteen appearances this season, although carries a 4.34 ERA. Twelve of those appearances have been in starts after a couple of solid years pitching out in Japan, while Anthony Kay has not been handed the decision loss in any of the last nine appearances during which time he is 5-0.
Earlier this month, Anthony Kay was tagged for six runs by the Philadelphia Phillies and he completed 4 Innings, although the batting lineup did enough to help him avoid factoring into the decision. He bounced back to hold the Los Angeles Dodgers to two runs in 5 Innings thrown, but this is another test for Kay.
Tuesday was the first time the Yankees and White Sox have met in 2026, but the blowout for New York means they have continued their dominance of this opponent.
Prediction
Both teams have been dealing with key batters missing, but the New York Yankees have shown more depth and may have the superior pitcher going to the mound to start.
Carlos Rodon can set the Yankees up to get the better of the Chicago White Sox again and this time it may pay to back the home team to cover the Run Line by getting after Anthony Kay early.
The Pick :
New York Yankees 7-3 Chicago White Sox
