Game Thread: Cubs at White Sox

The boys are back in town and ready for the Crosstown Classic

The White Sox are back home on the South Side to face the North Side team. Tonight kicks off the Crosstown Classic with the Cubs, this time at Rate Field. The Cubs recently dropped down to second place in the National League Central after the Royals took two of three games in the last series and Milwaukee has continued its red-hot streak into the best team in baseball. Meanwhile, the last-place White Sox took five of the last six games, scoring a total of 49 runs over the previous two series. This series will be interesting to see if the White Sox can stay hot or if they will roll over and help put the Cubs back in first place. Either way, it’s always a weird series, so strap in.

If you’d like, you can also hop over to our sister site and read my preview for the Sox.

Adrian Houser will be on the mound tonight. Houser has been hot lately, going 5-2 with a respectable 1.89 ERA. Unfortunately, that makes him a likely trade target, and we’re starting to see movement around the league. Luis Robert Jr. and Kyle Teel get the night off.

Shōta Imanaga (7-2) will be on the mound tonight for the visitors. Going toe-to-toe with Houser tonight might bring on a pitchers’ duel, as Imanaga also carries a low ERA of just 2.40. One thing however to watch for is how Ian Happ will work against Houser, as in 21 PA he’s slashing .286/.524/.429.

First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. CT. You can watch on both CHSN or Marquee Sports Network. If you would rather listen, you can do that on either ESPN Chicago 1000 or 670 The Score.