7:05 pm
August 8

White Sox @ Cubs

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago White Sox (65-46)

@ Chicago Cubs (52-60)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Cease (CHW): 8-6; 3.92 ERA

Davies (CHC) 6-8; 4.79 ERA

 

Current odds:

Chicago White Sox: (-177)

Chicago Cubs: (+162)

 

• The White Sox are looking to secure a three-game sweep against their crosstown rivals after posting an 8-6 win in 10 innings Friday and a 4-0 win Saturday. This is the first series of the season between the teams, who are scheduled to play three more games against one another in late August when the White Sox will serve as host.

• Cease (8-6, 3.92 ERA) is scheduled to face the Cubs for the third time in his career and is 0-2 with a 5.91 ERA in the first two games. He was the Cubs’ sixth-round pick out of Milton (Ga.) High School in 2014 and climbed through the farm system with his eye on the big leagues. Cease has been a key part of the starting rotation that has led the White Sox’s success this season. The 25-year-old has 149 strikeouts in 114 2/3 innings, both career highs, and opponents are hitting .227 against him.

• The Cubs will counter with right-hander Zach Davies (6-8, 4.79), who is set to make his 24th start this season. Davies hopes to bounce back from a bumpy start at Coors Field in Colorado, where he gave up seven runs on six hits and two walks in four innings on Tuesday. This will be Davies’ first career matchup against the White Sox. He has made 146 career starts, all in the National League, with the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres and Cubs.

• One player who will try to provide Davies with run support for the Cubs is Patrick Wisdom. He has enjoyed a breakout season (.263, 16 homers, 32 RBIs in 64 games) but has struggled to maintain the pace. “(I’ve) just kind of simplified a lot of things,” Wisdom said. “I caught myself chasing hits, chasing contact, chasing the pitchers’ out pitches. So I just have to get back to what I know I can do and just keep it simple.”

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Chicago White Sox
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