White Sox vs. Guardians Prediction: Game 5 Picks, Best Bets and Props (Oct. 10)

White Sox vs. Guardians Picks in Summary

• Guardians Moneyline (-136)
• Jose Ramirez 2+ Hits/Runs/RBI (-110)

The Cleveland Guardians looked dead in the water after dropping the first two games of their ALDS matchup with the Chicago White Sox, but the series is now headed to a winner-take-all Game 5.

Cleveland responded with consecutive victories in Chicago, scoring nine runs in each contest, including a six-run sixth inning in Thursday's 9-5 Game 4 win. José Ramírez provided another big moment with a homer as the Guardians completed the comeback and sent the series back to Progressive Field.

Game 5 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET tonight, with the winner advancing to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS. Chicago will give the ball to Sean Burke while Cleveland's pitching plans are much more fluid after using several starters in Game 4.

Using the MLB odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, let's check out my two favorite bets for White Sox-Guardians Game 5.

All MLB odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published. Bets in this article may be pulled from our other MLB content for today.

White Sox vs Guardians MLB Picks and Prediction for Game 5

Guardians Moneyline (-136)

I'm backing the Cleveland Guardians to complete the comeback.

The biggest reason is that I'm comfortable with how the Guardians can attack this elimination game from a pitching standpoint. Cleveland used Parker Messick, Tanner Bibee, and Gavin Williams (among others) during Game 4, so this probably won't resemble a normal regular-season pitching setup. In a winner-take-all spot, manager Stephen Vogt can be extremely aggressive with his available arms.

Williams — who had a 33.2% K rate and 2.95 SIERA this season — is slated to start and will probably have five to six innings in him if it’s going well, but Vogt will likely have a quick hook if things start going sideways.

The Chicago White Sox, meanwhile, announced Sean Burke as their starter. He turned in a quality 2026 regular season, finishing with a 3.34 ERA over 172.1 innings. However, his workload in October has looked much different than it did during the regular season. Chicago has consistently leaned into short starts and aggressive bullpen usage during this postseason.

The matchup also looks much different than it did when Chicago took Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland. The Guardians' offense has broken through for 18 runs over the past two games, and superstar Jose Ramírez is heating up at precisely the right time. He went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI in Game 4 after Cleveland had entered the series searching for more production from the middle of its order.

Home-field advantage isn't enough on its own to justify backing Cleveland, but when combined with its recent offensive improvement and the flexibility to piece together nine innings with its best available pitchers, I prefer the Guardians at -136.

Jose Ramirez 2+ Hits/Runs/RBI (-110)

For the player prop, I like Ramírez to record at least two total bases.

Ramírez has come alive with Cleveland's season on the line. He tripled in Game 3 before going 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Game 4, helping the Guardians erase a 2-0 series deficit. He's posted a 185 wRC+ through the ALDS, providing the kind of impact Cleveland needs from the heart of its lineup.

Saturday's matchup with Sean Burke isn't an easy one as Burke finished the regular season with a 3.34 ERA. Ramírez's switch-hitting ability allows him to attack Burke from the left side, and Burke surrendered a higher slugging percentage and more home-run damage to left-handed bats this season.

There's also some appeal in simply riding Cleveland's hottest hitter. Ramírez is on fire, and Cleveland's offense has finally broken through after struggling early in the series, scoring nine runs in each of its two wins in Chicago. That should help five him chances to both score and drive in runs.

In a winner-take-all game, Ramírez should get four or five opportunities from his spot in the meat of the order. He's shown over the past two games that he's capable of doing significant damage right now, and I'll back Ramírez to amass at least two H/R/RBI tonight.

MLB Betting Frequently Asked Questions

What are MLB player prop bets?

MLB player prop bets are wagers on specific statistical outcomes tied to individual players during a game — not on which team wins or loses. You might bet on how many strikeouts a starting pitcher records, whether a shortstop gets a hit, or how many total bases an outfielder accumulates.

Because they are isolated to a single player's performance, props let you apply focused knowledge about matchups, recent form, and ballpark conditions rather than predicting the full game result.

What types of MLB player props are available?

FanDuel offers a wide menu of MLB props. The most common categories include:

• Pitcher strikeouts
• Batter hits
• Home runs
• Total bases
• RBIs
• Stolen bases
• Pitcher outs recorded

How do MLB player prop bet odds work?

MLB prop odds use the standard American (moneyline) format. A negative number shows how much you must wager to profit $100. A positive number shows how much a $100 bet returns in profit.

• -110 odds — bet $110 to win $100
• +130 odds — bet $100 to win $130
• -200 odds — bet $200 to win $100

What does "total bases" mean as a prop bet?

The total bases prop counts the bases a batter earns from hits in a single game:

• Single = 1 base
• Double = 2 bases
• Triple = 3 bases
• Home run = 4 bases

Walks, hit-by-pitches, and stolen bases do not count. A typical total bases line is set at 1.5 or 2.5. Betting over 1.5 means you need at least a double, or two singles.

Which bets stand out to you today? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's MLB odds to see the full menu of options.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.