The Cincinnati Reds visit the Chicago White Sox on Thursday for the finale of a three-game set, and the betting market has the home side in front. Chicago sits at -138 on the moneyline, with the Reds a plus-money underdog at +115. That price looks tidy on paper. The White Sox own the better record and just blanked Cincinnati 5-0 a day earlier. However, the pitching matchup and a stubborn moneyline tell a more interesting story, and our headline lean sides with the visitors getting a fair number. The total is in play, too.
Last Updated: Thursday, August 13, 2026
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago White Sox — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Rate Field, Chicago, IL |
| When | Thursday, August 13, 2026 — 2:10 PM ET |
| TV | CHSN / Reds.TV |
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago White Sox Betting Preview
Pitching sets the tone here, and it is where the value hides. Chicago hands the ball to right-hander Davis Martin, who carries a 9-6 record and a 4.17 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP. The record flatters him. Martin opened the year around 8-1 with an ERA near 2.00 through his first 11 starts. He has faded hard since, with his ERA climbing well past 4.00 and early-inning trouble becoming a theme. He also draws this assignment on short rest. Cincinnati counters with left-hander Andrew Abbott, who is 6-7 with a steadier 3.92 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts across 128.2 innings. Abbott is not overpowering, but he has been the more dependable arm of late.
The standings still favor the hosts. Chicago enters at 62-57 and leads the AL Central, a sharp turnaround from a dismal 2025. Cincinnati arrives at 57-62, fourth in the NL Central and slipping in the playoff chase. Momentum is with Chicago as well after Wednesday’s 5-0 shutout. Still, one lopsided result does not reset a season, and the Reds have flashed more offensive upside than their record suggests. You can compare this matchup with our earlier coverage of this series.
Both lineups sit around the middle of the pack, so run scoring should hinge on the starters and how early each bullpen is pulled into the game. A short-rest starter on one side and a shut-out offense looking to respond on the other set up a contest with more variance than the moneyline implies.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago White Sox Odds
| Run Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reds | +1.5 (-180) | +115 | U 8.5 (-115) |
| White Sox | -1.5 (+155) | -138 | O 8.5 (-105) |
Odds accurate as of Thursday, August 13, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest MLB Odds – Futures – Props
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago White Sox — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Reds | 34% | 66% | White Sox |
See the latest MLB Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Reds vs. White Sox Prediction — Does the Road Dog Own the Arm Edge?
Start with the arms, because that is where this line looks soft. Martin’s surface numbers still read like a winning pitcher, but the trend underneath them points the other way. His ERA has climbed from the low 2.00s to well over 4.00, and his recent outings have featured damage early in games. Taking the mound on short rest rarely helps a pitcher who is already searching for his release point. Abbott, by contrast, has settled into a steadier rhythm. He misses enough bats to work around traffic, and he has kept his ERA under 4.00 while pitching for a team that does not score much.
The market adds a second layer. Public bettors are piling onto Chicago, with roughly three-quarters of moneyline tickets on the White Sox. Yet the number has not budged from its open at -138. When heavy public money fails to move a home favorite, it often signals that sharper money is quietly holding the other side. A frozen line against the crowd is a classic tell, and here it points toward the plus-money Reds.
The case against Cincinnati is real. Chicago is the better team by record, owns home-field advantage, and just shut the Reds out. Martin also insists his recent issues are a quick fix. If he is right, the White Sox win comfortably and this lean ages poorly. Even so, taking a live underdog at plus money behind the better-trending starter is the kind of price worth having.
The Pick: Cincinnati Reds Moneyline (+115)
Reds vs. White Sox Prediction — Will the Runs Come Early?
The same short-rest concern that clouds Chicago’s win case also lifts the run environment. Martin has struggled to keep the ball off the barrel in the early innings of his recent starts, and a rested Reds lineup that was blanked a day earlier has extra reason to jump on him. The pricing backs the idea. The over opened at plus money and has since been bet to -105, a quiet sign that money is leaning toward runs.
There is a genuine counter. Abbott has been steady, both offenses rank around the middle of the league, and Wednesday’s meeting produced just five combined runs. A sharp Abbott outing keeps Chicago’s bats quiet and drags the game under. This pick also leans on the same thread as the first one, that Martin gets hit, so treat the two as connected rather than independent. Still, at a number of 8.5 with the juice tilting up, the over is the cleaner read.
The Pick: Over 8.5 (-105)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
This game turns almost entirely on Davis Martin’s first three innings. If he escapes early trouble and settles in, Chicago’s superior record and home edge likely carry the day, and both of our leans lose. If he struggles out of the gate the way he has recently, the Reds get their opening and the scoreboard moves quickly. Andrew Abbott’s command is the other swing factor. He does not overpower hitters, so he needs to limit free passes to keep Chicago’s lineup from stringing an inning together.
Watch the bullpens as well, since an afternoon finale can pull relievers into high-leverage spots earlier than usual. There is no separate third angle worth forcing here. The two leans above already capture the edge, and both flow from the same read on the matchup. For the rest of the card, see our latest MLB best bets. To recap, our best bets are the Cincinnati Reds on the moneyline at +115 and the game total over 8.5 at -105, with the underdog side the stronger of the two.
MLB Reds vs. White Sox FAQ: Thursday August 13, 2026
What time does the Reds vs. White Sox game start?
First pitch for Cincinnati at Chicago is set for 2:10 PM ET on Thursday, August 13, 2026. It is a getaway-day afternoon start and the finale of the three-game series at Rate Field in Chicago.
What channel is the Reds vs. White Sox game on?
The game airs on regional sports networks. CHSN carries the White Sox broadcast in the Chicago market, while Reds.TV handles the Cincinnati feed. As an afternoon regional game, it is not scheduled for national television, so availability depends on your local market.
Who is pitching for the Reds on Thursday?
Left-hander Andrew Abbott is scheduled to start for Cincinnati. He enters at 6-7 with a 3.92 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts over 128.2 innings. Abbott has been the Reds’ steadiest starter in recent weeks despite the team’s losing record.
Who is pitching for the White Sox on Thursday?
Right-hander Davis Martin gets the ball for Chicago on short rest. He is 9-6 with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP, though his ERA has risen sharply from a strong start to the season. Early-inning trouble has marked his most recent outings.
Where do the Reds and White Sox stand in their divisions?
Chicago enters at 62-57 and leads the AL Central, a striking rebound from recent seasons. Cincinnati sits at 57-62, fourth in the NL Central and below .500. The White Sox hold the stronger position, but both clubs are chasing October from very different angles.