The 22nd annual crosstown series kicks off today with a three-game set on the north side. Unlike the last two seasons, the teams will play two sets of three-game series instead of a single four-game set split in Wrigley and Guaranteed Rate.
As popular as this series is among fans, it’s just another series against a non-divisional opponent for the players. If both teams were competitive maybe that would be different. Unfortunately, both the Cubs and Sox have made the playoffs in the same season just once since the series started in 1997, and the 9-25 White Sox won’t help change that trend this season.
Still, strangely, the lack of competitive-on-paper matchups seem to make fans even more interested. The fans of the underdog hope their team can play the role of spoiler, while fans of the favorite desperately want to avoid having their family and friends heckle them because the Cubs lost to an inferior Sox team, or vice versa.
Frankly, and I say this as a guy that comes from a split fandom family, I detest the series and don’t get why more fans don’t feel the same way. The games bring out the worst in people on both sides and no matter what the result of the 4-6 games, no one ends up satisfied because the teams typically play each other so evenly.
From the Cubs perspective, they need to carry the momentum from their sweep of Miami into the weekend. Taking advantage of this soft spot in the schedule would certainly give them some cushion from the .500 mark.
From the White Sox perspective, it doesn’t matter. They’re 9-25. They can get hyped to play spoiler when the teams meet again in September, but right now it just doesn’t matter.
PROBABLE STARTERS
- Carson Fulmer vs Tyler Chatwood
- James Shields vs Jon Lester
- Lucas Giolito vs Kyle Hendricks
LINEUPS
These should differ day by day, but they should look relatively similar to this:
White Sox:
- Leury Garcia/Yolmer Sanchez 2B
- Jose Abreu 1B
- Nicky Delmonico LF
- Wellington Castillo C
- Daniel Palka RF
- Matt Davidson 3B
- Tim Anderson SS
- Trayce Thompson/Adam Engel CF
Cubs
- Ben Zobrist RF
- Kris Bryant 3B
- Anthony Rizzo 1B
- Wilson Contreras C
- Kyle Schwarber LF
- Javier Baez 2B
- Addison Russell SS
- Ian Happ/Albert Almora CF
Both teams have regular starters on the DL, which could make for some pretty interesting lineup shuffling over the weekend. Given the way these meetings typically unfold, expect Omar Narvaez or Mark Zagunis to deliver in the clutch at some point.
We’ll have baseball in just a few hours, weather permitting. If you’re like me today is just another Cubs (or Sox) game on the schedule. If you’re a fan that gets really into this, then enjoy yourself and good luck to you.
Uness you’re a Sox fan.
Here is today's #Cubs lineup against the #WhiteSox! #EverybodyIn
Stream on @YouTubeTV: https://t.co/t4XvcdoeJc pic.twitter.com/qoIq11aeNd
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 11, 2018
Today's #WhiteSox starters.
⏰: 1:20 PM CT
📺: @WGNTV & @MLBNetwork
📻: @WGNRadio pic.twitter.com/Z4FJlIVa33— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 11, 2018
