Preview: White Sox (30-34) at Cubs (30-30)

[Lumi]

Preview: White Sox (30-34) at Cubs (30-30)

The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox were leading their divisions when they met for the first time last season, prompting talk of a Windy City World Series.

No such buzz will surround the crosstown rivals as they meet for the first time this year.

In the midst of disappointing seasons, the Cubs and White Sox look to build off dramatic victories when they again try to open this series Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Rain forced Tuesday's opener to be postponed 10 minutes after it was supposed to start. No makeup date has been set and it's unlikely a doubleheader will be played Thursday when a day game is also scheduled.


The Cubs (30-30) won their second straight NL Central title in 2008, but a sputtering lineup has them steeped in mediocrity. After leading the league in runs (855) and on-base percentage (.354) last season, the Cubs are near the bottom of the NL this year with 253 runs and a .324 OBP. That led to the firing of hitting coach Gerald Perry on Sunday.

The White Sox (30-34) haven't been much better offensively.

The defending AL Central champions are chasing Detroit and Minnesota in the division and are among the AL's worst hitting teams with a .251 average.

"It might be the battle of who's the worst in town," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

The White Sox, though, may be on the verge of turning things around.

A.J. Pierzynski singled with two outs in the ninth inning Sunday to lift the White Sox to a 5-4 win at Milwaukee for their third victory in four games after dropping eight of 10.

The Cubs are coming off an exciting finish of their own.

In Sunday's 3-2 win over Minnesota, Ryan Theriot drove in Derrek Lee with a bases-loaded single in the ninth to snap a four-game skid.

"It was good to see our guys bunch together three hits in the ninth," manger Lou Piniella told the Cubs' official Web site. "Hopefully, these things are all harbingers of things to come.

"We look forward to playing our crosstown neighbors, we really do. We're at .500, so we want to extricate ourselves from the .500 mark. It's a big series for both teams."

Since interleague play began in 1997, the crosstown series is tied at 33.

Last year, the Cubs won the three games at Wrigley, while the White Sox took three on the South Side.

Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano was scheduled to take the ball Tuesday, but will be pushed back to face Gavin Floyd on Thursday. Ryan Dempster (4-3, 3.87 ERA) will make his scheduled start in this contest.

Dempster allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings of a 2-1, 13-inning loss at Houston on Thursday. That was his only earned run allowed in 20 innings over his last three starts.

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 7.84 ERA in two starts - both last season - against the White Sox.

The White Sox will counter with John Danks (4-5, 4.81), who's coming off his best performance in weeks.

Danks allowed two runs and struck out seven in a season-high 7 1-3 innings Wednesday, but lost 2-1 to Detroit. The left-hander had a 7.02 ERA over his previous eight starts, third-highest in the majors since April 28.

In his only start against the Cubs, Danks didn't get a decision after yielding one run and five hits in six innings of a 4-3 loss June 20 at Wrigley.

 

[Lumi]

MLB Matchup White Sox vs Cubs 2:20 p.m. ET

MLB Matchup White Sox vs Cubs 2:20 p.m. ET

MLB Matchup


White Sox vs Cubs

Game Time: 2:20 p.m. ET

Stadium: Wrigley Field Surface: Grass






Chicago Ws
Date at Opp SC Time
/Sur Home
Open Home
Close Total
Open Total
Close Starter Dec O/U
6/06/09 Cle 4-2 D/g -135 -128 9.5-110 9.5-105 Floyd,ga W U
6/07/09 Cle 4-8 D/g -135 -120 10.0-110 10.0-110 Colon,ba L O
6/08/09 Det 6-1 N/g +105 -105 10.0+100 10.0-105 Contreras,jo W U
6/08/09 Det 4-5 D/g -140 -115 9.5-110 9.5-110 Richard,cl L U
6/09/09 Det 6-7 N/g -165 -165 9.5-110 9.5+100 Buehrle,ma L O
6/10/09 Det 1-2 N/g +120 +125 8.5+100 8.5-110 Danks,jo L U
6/11/09 Det 4-3 D/g -115 +100 9.0+100 8.5-105 Floyd,ga W U
6/12/09 At Mlw 2-7 N/g -135 -138 9.0-110 9.0-115 Richard,cl L P
6/13/09 At Mlw 7-1 D/g -125 -130 9.5-110 9.5+110 Contreras,jo W U
6/14/09 At Mlw 5-4 D/g -115 -130 8.5-120 8.5-105 Buehrle,ma W O
Chicago C
Date at Opp SC Time
/Sur Home
Open Home
Close Total
Open Total
Close Starter Dec O/U
6/03/09 At Atl 3-2 N/g -135 -130 8.0-120 8.0+100 Lilly,te W U
6/05/09 At Cin 2-1 N/t +115 +115 9.0-120 9.0-120 Zambrano,ca W U
6/06/09 At Cin 3-4 N/t +120 +115 9.5-110 9.0+100 Dempster,ry L U
6/07/09 At Cin 6-3 D/t +100 -103 9.0+100 8.5-110 Wells,ra W O
6/09/09 At Hou 7-1 N/g +125 +115 9.5+100 9.0-120 Lilly,te W U
6/10/09 At Hou 1-2 N/g +110 +105 8.5-110 8.5-105 Zambrano,ca L U
6/11/09 At Hou 1-2 D/g +130 +135 9.5-110 9.5+100 Dempster,ry L U
6/12/09 Min 4-7 D/g -130 -130 8.0-110 8.5+100 Wells,ra L O
6/13/09 Min 0-2 D/g -185 -160 8.5+100 9.0+100 Harden,ri L U
6/14/09 Min 3-2 D/g -150 -132 8.5+100 8.0+105 Lilly,te W U



Head-To-Head

Head-To-Head
Date Opp SC Time
/Sur Home
Open Home
Close Total
Open Total
Close Winner Dec O/U
6/20/08 Cws 4-3 D/g -140 -125 9.5-110 9.5-105 Wood,ke W U
6/21/08 Cws 11-7 D/g -117 -115 9.0-120 9.0-120 Marquis,ja W O
6/22/08 Cws 7-1 N/g -133 -130 9.0+110 9.0+100 Dempster,ry W U
6/27/08 Chc 10-3 D/g -108 -115 9.0+110 9.0+110 Contreras,jo W O
6/28/08 Chc 6-5 D/g -140 -140 9.0-110 9.5+110 Thornton,ma W O
6/29/08 Chc 5-1 N/g -155 -140 9.0-125 9.0-120 Buehrle,ma W U



W/L Record Comparison

Chicago Ws
Home Units Away Units Total Units
2009 16-18 -725 14-16 +151 30-34 -574
Last 10 3-4 -200 2-1 +140 5-5 -60
Chicago C
Home Units Away Units Total Units
2009 17-12 -101 13-18 -678 30-30 -779
Last 10 1-2 -190 4-3 +35 5-5 -155
RECORDS
Day Night Grass Turf Fav Dog
Chicago 12-13 18-21 27-29 3-5 14-17 13-15
Chicago 15-12 15-18 28-29 2-1 25-19 2-9



Over/Under Comparison
(Based on taking the Over)

Chicago Ws
Home Units Away Units Total Units
2009 9-25 -1855 16-13 +170 25-38 -1685
Last 10 2-5 -335 1-1 -10 3-6 -345
Chicago C
Home Units Away Units Total Units
2009 13-15 -295 13-17 -565 26-32 -860
Last 10 1-2 -105 1-6 -545 2-8 -650



Away Pitcher

CHICAGO WHITE SOX -- DANKS,JOHN (L)

GS W L IP H R ER BB SO ERA Day Ngt Grs Trf
W L W L W L W L
Away 6 3 2 32.2 38 21 21 14 26 5.79 0 0 3 2 2 1 1 1
Home 6 1 3 34.2 31 17 15 12 35 3.89 0 0 1 3 1 3 0 0
Total 12 4 5 67.1 69 38 36 26 61 4.81 0 0 4 5 3 4 1 1
2009 BULLPEN FOR DANKS,JOHN
GMS IP R ER ERA H BB SO HR W L SV BS
12 38.2 11 10 2.33 38 11 28 1 2 1 4 1
Last Five Starts
Date Opp SC Dec IP R ER H BB SO HR H/Open H/Close Tot Op Tot Cl
5/20/09 MIN 7-4 W 5.2 4 2 5 3 7 1 -117 -110 8.5-110 8.5-125
5/25/09 at LAA 17-3 W 6.0 3 3 4 6 4 0 -148 -150 8.5-110 8.0-120
5/31/09 at KC 7-4 5.1 4 4 9 2 5 0 -175 -170 7.5-120 7.5-105
6/05/09 CLE 0-6 L 5.2 5 5 6 2 4 3 -135 -130 9.5+100 9.0-115
6/10/09 DET 1-2 L 7.1 2 2 5 2 7 1 +120 +125 8.5+100 8.5-110
VS. Opponent ( Last 5 Starts - Since 1997)
Date Opp SC Dec IP R ER H BB SO HR H/Open H/Close Tot Op Tot Cl
6/20/08 at CHC 3-4 6.0 1 1 5 0 5 0 -140 -125 9.5-110 9.5-105

Bullpen ( Last 5 Games )
Date Opp IP R ER ERA H BB SO HR W L SV BS
6/10/09 DET 1.2 0 0 0.00 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0
6/11/09 DET 1.0 2 2 18.00 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 1
6/12/09 at MLW 3.0 6 6 18.00 9 1 6 0 0 0 0 1
6/13/09 at MLW 1.0 1 1 9.00 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
6/14/09 at MLW 3.0 0 0 0.00 1 0 4 0 1 0 1 0



Home Pitcher

CHICAGO CUBS -- DEMPSTER,RYAN (R)

GS W L IP H R ER BB SO ERA Day Ngt Grs Trf
W L W L W L W L
Away 8 1 3 50.1 51 25 21 17 44 3.75 0 1 1 2 1 3 0 0
Home 5 3 0 31.0 22 14 14 12 24 4.06 2 0 1 0 3 0 0 0
Total 13 4 3 81.1 73 39 35 29 68 3.87 2 1 2 2 4 3 0 0
2009 BULLPEN FOR DEMPSTER,RYAN
GMS IP R ER ERA H BB SO HR W L SV BS
13 39.0 23 23 5.31 38 31 35 3 1 5 1 2
Last Five Starts
Date Opp SC Dec IP R ER H BB SO HR H/Open H/Close Tot Op Tot Cl
5/20/09 at STL 1-2 L 7.0 2 2 6 2 3 0 -130 -120 8.5-105 8.0+100
5/25/09 PIT 8-10 4.0 6 6 7 3 3 1 -173 -150 8.0-125 7.5-120
5/30/09 LA 7-0 W 7.0 0 0 3 1 5 0 -135 -145 9.5-120 10.0-115
6/06/09 at CIN 3-4 6.0 3 0 6 2 7 1 +120 +115 9.5-110 9.0+100
6/11/09 at HOU 1-2 7.0 1 1 7 0 4 0 +130 +135 9.5-110 9.5+100
VS. Opponent ( Last 5 Starts - Since 1997)
Date Opp SC Dec IP R ER H BB SO HR H/Open H/Close Tot Op Tot Cl
6/22/08 CWS 7-1 W 8.0 1 1 10 1 4 0 -133 -130 9.0+110 9.0+100
6/27/08 at CWS 3-10 L 2.1 8 8 7 3 1 1 -108 -115 9.0+110 9.0+110

Bullpen ( Last 5 Games )
Date Opp IP R ER ERA H BB SO HR W L SV BS
6/10/09 at HOU 0.1 1 1 27.00 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
6/11/09 at HOU 5.2 1 1 1.59 4 3 4 0 0 0 0 0
6/12/09 MIN 5.1 3 3 5.06 7 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
6/13/09 MIN 3.0 0 0 0.00 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
6/14/09 MIN 1.1 0 0 0.00 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0

 

[Lumi]

Chicago White Sox (30-34) at Chicago Cubs (30-30), 2:20 p.m.

Chicago White Sox (30-34) at Chicago Cubs (30-30), 2:20 p.m.

Chicago White Sox (30-34) at Chicago Cubs (30-30), 2:20 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: White Sox - John Danks (4-5, 4.81) Cubs - Ryan Dempster (4-3, 3.87)

The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox will get their rivalry started a day late, as the two Windy City rivals begin what's now an abbreviated two-game series this afternoon at Wrigley Field.

This highly-anticipated interleague matchup was initially scheduled to begin last night, but Tuesday's contest was postponed due to rain and a makeup date has yet to be determined.

The series features a pair of teams that reached the playoffs a year ago, but each has had trouble achieving last season's success thus far in 2009. The Cubs, hailed by many preseason prognosticators as the favorites to represent the National League in this year's World Series, have been especially disappointing, as Lou Piniella's squad brings a mediocre 30-30 record into tonight's matchup and has lost four of its last five games.

The Cubs do come in on a high note, though, after earning a hard-fought 3-2 decision over Minnesota on Sunday. Ryan Theriot's bases-loaded single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning accounted for the winning margin.

Theriot finished the game 2-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in to lead the Cubs to victory on the same day the team fired hitting coach Gerald Perry and named Von Joshua as a replacement. The Cubs led the NL with 855 runs scored last season, but are next-to-last in that category at the moment and are hitting a collective .246 as a team.

Derrek Lee extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a 2-for-4 day, while Geovany Soto went 3-for-4 with an RBI to help the Cubs end their four-game slide.

Carlos Marmol (2-1) got the win after throwing 1 1/3 scoreless frames in relief of Ted Lilly, who held the Twins to two runs on nine hits over the first 7 2/3 innings.

"He's pitched exceedingly well for us all year," said Piniella about Lilly. "This guy here competes and he's a pro, and today was no exception."

The White Sox captured the AL Central with an 89-74 record in 2008 but are currently four games under .500 (30-34), although they trail the division- leading Detroit Tigers by only 4 1/2 games.

The Pale Hose have won their last two tests, however, to take a three-game set on the road against NL Central leader Milwaukee over the weekend. They've now won their last three series as the visitor and have compiled a 7-2 record over that span.

In Sunday's rubber match with the Brewers, A.J. Pierzynski delivered a tie- breaking RBI single in the top of the ninth inning to lift the White Sox to a 5-4 triumph.

Pierzynski finished 3-for-5 for the White Sox, while rookie Gordon Beckham had a two-run double and Scott Podsednik contributed an RBI single to the win. Chicago also received a solo homer from starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, the first of his career.

"I was shocked Buehrle hit a homer, because he is a terrible hitter," joked Pierzynski afterward.

Buehrle wasn't as sharp on the mound, allowing four runs on seven hits in a six-inning no-decision. Matt Thornton (4-1) recorded the final two outs of the eighth to wind up with the win.

John Danks gets the call for the White Sox in the opener and will be out to halt a personal three-start losing streak. The young lefty is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA over that stretch, although he did pitch quite well his most recent time out.

Against Detroit on Wednesday, Danks allowed just two runs and five hits and struck out seven over a season-high 7 1/3 innings in a tough-luck 2-1 loss to the Tigers.

The 24-year-old's only career start against the Cubs came at Wrigley Field last June, with Danks surrendering just one run and five hits in a six-inning no-decision.

Tuesday's rainout enabled Piniella to alter his rotation a bit, with last night's slated starter Carlos Zambrano now pushed back to throw Thursday's finale. Ryan Dempster will remain on his regular turn and pitch today's tilt.

Piniella has good reason to keep Dempster on the same schedule, since the right-hander has yielded only four runs -- one earned -- over his past three starts spanning a total of 20 innings. The surge has lowered Dempster's season ERA from 4.99 to 3.87.

The 2008 All-Star was outstanding once again this past Thursday, although he did not get a decision in an extra-inning loss at Houston. Dempster limited the Astros to one run on seven hits and did not walk a batter over seven innings of work.

Dempster, who has not lost since May 20, is just 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA and three saves in nine career appearances against the White Sox, two of which have been starts. That lone win came at Wrigley Field last June, when the native Canadian tossed eight innings of one run ball in a 7-1 verdict.

Since interleague play began in 1997, the Cubs and White Sox have split 66 all-time meetings. The Cubs have gone 19-14 in those games played at Wrigley Field and have won nine of the past 13 overall matchups between the clubs.

 

[Lumi]

MLB Matchup -- Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs

MLB Matchup -- Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs

MLB Matchup -- Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs

Chicago White Sox (30-34) at Chicago Cubs (30-30)
Tuesday, June 16th Postponed
Game One Wednesday, June 17th, 2:20 p.m.
Game Two Thursday, June 18th, 2:20 p.m.
Records
2009 Head-to-Head Record First meeting
2008 Head-to-Head Record Tied 3-3 (Cubs 0-3 at WSox; 3-0 at Home)
2007 Head-to-Head Record Chicago Cubs 5-1 (3-0 at WSox; 2-1 at Cubs)
2006 Head-to-Head Record Chicago WSox 4-2 (2-1 at WSox; 2-1 at Cubs)
2005 Head-to-Head Record Tied 3-3 (Cubs 2-1 at WSox; 1-2 at Home)
2004 Head-to-Head Record Chicago Cubs 4-2 (1-2 at WSox; 3-0 at Cubs)
2003 Head-to-Head Record Chicago WSox 4-2 (2-1 at WSox; 2-1 at Cubs)
Home Record Chicago WSox 16-18; Chicago Cubs 17-12
Away Record Chicago WSox 14-16; Chicago Cubs 13-18
Current Streak Chicago WSox (W2); Chicago Cubs (W1)
Record vs. American League Chicago WSox 4-2
Record vs. National League Chicago Cubs 1-2
All-Time Interleague Record Chicago WSox 120-97; Chicago Cubs 85-90
2009 Meetings
6/16 - Postponed at Chicago Cubs
2008 Meetings
6/20 - Chicago Cubs, 4-3 (at Cubs - WP: K.Wood; LP: Linebrink)
6/21 - Chicago Cubs, 11-7 (at Cubs - WP: Marquis; LP: Contreras)
6/22 - Chicago Cubs, 7-1 (at Cubs - WP: Dempster; LP: Vazquez)
6/27 - Chicago WSox, 10-3 (at WSox - WP: Contreras; LP: Dempster)
6/28 - Chicago WSox, 6-5 (at WSox - WP: Thornton; LP: Marmol)
6/29 - Chicago WSox, 5-1 (at WSox - WP: Buehrle; LP: S.Marshall)
2007 Meetings
5/18 - Chicago Cubs, 6-3 (at Cubs - WP: Lilly; LP: MacDougal)
5/19 - Chicago Cubs, 11-6 (at Cubs - WP: Howry; LP: Aardsma)
5/20 - Chicago WSox, 10-6 (at Cubs - WP: Masset; LP: C.Zambrano)
6/22 - Chicago Cubs, 5-1 (at WSox - WP: C.Zambrano; LP: Buehrle)
6/23 - Chicago Cubs, 2-1 (at WSox - WP: Wuertz; LP: Jenks)
6/24 - Chicago Cubs, 3-0 (at WSox - WP: S.Marshall; LP: Contreras)
2006 Meetings
5/19 - Chicago WSox, 6-1 (at WSox - WP: Buehrle; LP: Maddux)
5/20 - Chicago WSox, 7-0 (at WSox - WP: F.Garcia; LP: R.Hill)
5/21 - Chicago Cubs, 7-4 (at WSox - WP: C.Zambrano; LP: Cotts)
6/30 - Chicago WSox, 6-2 (at Cubs - WP: Garland; LP: Marshall)
7/01 - Chicago WSox, 8-6 (at Cubs - WP: Cotts; LP: Dempster)
7/02 - Chicago Cubs, 15-11 (at Cubs - WP: C.Zambrano; LP: Buehrle)
2005 Meetings
5/20 - Chicago WSox, 5-1 (at Cubs - WP: Garcia; LP: Maddux)
5/21 - Chicago WSox, 5-3 (at Cubs - WP: Contreras; LP: Wuertz)
5/22 - Chicago Cubs, 4-3 (at Cubs - WP: Prior; LP: Vizcaino)
6/24 - Chicago WSox, 12-2 (at WSox - WP: F.Garcia; LP: Mitre)
6/25 - Chicago Cubs, 6-2 (at WSox - WP: Maddux; LP: Contreras)
6/26 - Chicago Cubs, 2-0 (at WSox - WP: Prior; LP: Garland)
2004 Meetings
6/25 - Chicago Cubs, 7-4 (at WSox - WP: Prior; LP: Garland)
6/26 - Chicago WSox, 6-3 (at WSox - WP: Diaz; LP: C.Zambrano)
6/27 - Chicago WSox, 9-4 (at WSox - WP: Loaiza; LP: Maddux)
7/02 - Chicago Cubs, 6-2 (at Cubs - WP: C.Zambrano; LP: Loaiza)
7/03 - Chicago Cubs, 4-2 (5 1/2) (at Cubs - WP: Maddux; LP: Diaz)
7/04 - Chicago Cubs, 2-1 (at Cubs - WP: Hawkins; LP: Takatsu)
2003 Meetings
6/20 - Chicago WSox, 12-3 (at Cubs - WP: Garland; LP: Estes)
6/21 - Chicago WSox, 7-6 (at Cubs - WP: Buehrle; LP: Clement)
6/22 - Chicago Cubs, 2-1 (at Cubs - WP: C.Zambrano; LP: Marte)
6/27 - Chicago WSox, 4-3 (at WSox - WP: Koch; LP: Alfonseca)
6/28 - Chicago WSox, 7-6 (at WSox - WP: Koch; LP: J.Cruz)
6/29 - Chicago Cubs, 5-2 (at WSox - WP: K.Wood; LP: Loaiza)
Chicago WSox last five games Chicago Cubs last five games
6/11 - W vs. Detroit, 4-3 6/11 - L at Houston, 1-2 (13)
6/12 - L at Milwaukee, 2-7 6/12 - L vs. Minnesota, 4-7
6/13 - W at Milwaukee, 7-1 6/13 - L vs. Minnesota, 0-2
6/14 - W at Milwaukee, 5-4 6/14 - W vs. Minnesota, 3-2
6/16 - Postponed at Chicago Cubs 6/16 - Postponed vs. Chicago WSox