Cubs vs White Sox — Let’s just say I’m especially happy the Cubs were able to steal that last game in Atlanta, because the next six days — during which the Cubs will face the White Sox and Brewers six times straight — have the potential to be pretty annoying.
In case you haven’t been following along here lately, the Brewers have surged back from last place in the NL Central to just 2.5 games out of first, with a record seven games over .500. Also, I hate them.
And the White Sox, while only one game over .500 on the season, are having more fun maybe than any team in the league over the past few weeks. They’re riding a five-game winning streak, they’re 16-8 over their last 24 games, and they’re 12-9 at home, where this series will be played.
And given that they’re an upstart young team hosting a “contending” Cubs team, you know every win they steal will be even sweeter.
There is some good news, though. And that’s the fact that the White Sox have been way better against lefties (115 wRC+, 5th in MLB) than righties (97 wRC+, 19th in MLB) this season. That’s fortunate because the Cubs are throwing three straight righties in Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Colin Rea.
Of course, Cabrera is actually coming off his worst start of the season against the Rangers, who tagged him for 5 earned runs on seven hits in just 5.0 IP. He’s allowed seven homers over his last four starts and just hasn’t quite looked as dominant as we know he can be yet this season.
Likewise, Colin Rea (starting the finale on Sunday) also had a tough time against the Braves, who got him for an identical 5 ER on 7 hits, but over just 4.1 IP.
Jameson Taillon, by contrast, is riding a nice three-game stretch (3.00 ERA over 18.0 IP), and we know he can lock in like this for six(ish) weeks at a time. So hopefully, he stays hot.
On the flip side, I thought I’d be happier to learn that the Cubs will miss White Sox prospect Noah Schultz this weekend (and I am, to an extent), but the results have been a little inconsistent to start the year, and the Cubs have hit lefties a good deal better than righties so far this season.
Plus, the three pitches the Cubs have drawn have each been pretty darn successful this year.
Sean Burke, 26, has a 3.68 ERA, a tiny 5.6% walk rate, and a miniscule 5.4% barrel rate. He just got lit up by the Rays, but before that was on a heater following his first start of the year: 2.27 ERA (3.37 xERA) over six starts and 35.2 IP.
After pitching like a fine back-end guy from 2022-2024, Davis Martin, 29, is breaking out in a big way this season. His strikeout rate has exploded (27.1%), his walk rate has been cut in half (5.2%), and the barrel rate is also well under control. He’s also thrown 6.0+ innings in all but two starts this season (and one of those was 5.2 IP), and he has allowed 1 or fewer runs in six of eight games.
Fortunately, on Sunday, the Cubs will get Erick Fedde.
Fedde, 33, does have slid results this season (3.77 ERA), but the peripherals tell a VERY different story: 4.16 xERA, 6.04 FIP. And that’s because he’s got just a 14.7% strikeout rate, which is well below a playable level long-term, especially when he otherwise has a 10.4% barrel rate. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a fine veteran pitcher who has clearly found some success, but he’s the softer matchup this weekend.
The bottom line there, then, is if the Cubs can grab a win in either of the first two games, I like their chances to take the series in the finale.
Now, there’s another wrinkle here, at least for tonight. And that’s the bullpen usage. If Daniel Palencia is still not greenlit for back-to-back games, he’ll be unavailable tonight.
Likewise, Phil Maton threw back-to-backs, so he’s likely out. Hoby Milner threw 25 pitches over 2.0 innings last night, so he’s probably out. And Jacob Webb threw 13 pitches on Tuesday and 16 pitches last night. He might be available, but probably won’t be the first guy Craig Counsell goes to.
Fortunately, even when he doesn’t pitch particularly well, Edward Cabrera (tonight’s starter) tends to pitch into (at least) the sixth inning. So hopefully there aren’t quite as many innings to cover as usual.
Offensively, we know the Cubs’ bats have been brutally quiet/cold for about a week, and you may have heard something about the White Sox hitting well. Yeah, well, check this out:
Last 7 Days:White Sox: 134 wRC+ (1st in MLB)Cubs: 43 wRC+ (30th in MLB)Last 14 Days: White Sox: 118 wRC+ (3rd in MLB)Cubs: 87 wRC+ (21st in MLB)?
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) May 15, 2026I really hope the offense decides to wake up, like … tonight/immediately. Because that’s uglier than I thought it would be for longer than I thought it was going on.
Lastly, everyone’s been sharing this already, so I guess I’ll jump on board: This is the first time the Cubs and White Sox have met with both teams over .500 since 2008 (excluding the COVID season).
Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY SportsCubs vs White Sox – Pitching Probables:
Game 1: Friday, May 15 at 6:40 PM CT at Rate FieldBroadcast Info: Marquee Sports Network, CHSN, MLB.TV Free Game of the Day, WCIU TV, ESPN 1000, 104.3 The Score
Cubs: Edward Cabrera, RHP White Sox: Sean Burke, RHPGame 2: Saturday, May 16 at 6:10 PM CT at Rate FieldBroadcast Info: Marquee Sports Network, CHSN, ESPN 1000, 104.3 The Score
Cubs: Jameson Taillon, RHP White Sox: Davis Martin, RHPGame 3: Sunday, May 17 at 1:10 PM CT at Rate FieldBroadcast Info: Marquee Sports Network, CHSN, ESPN 1000, 104.3 The Score
Cubs: Colin Rea, RHP White Sox: Erick Fedde, RHPCubs vs White Sox – Key Injuries:
Chicago Cubs:
Matthew Boyd, SP Hunter Harvey, RP Riley Martin, RP Caleb Thielbar, RP Jordan Wicks, SP Tyler Austin, IF/OF (60-Day IL) Porter Hodge, RP (60-Day IL) Cade Horton, SP (60-Day IL) Shelby Miller, RP (60-Day IL) Justin Steele, SP (60-Day IL)Chicago White Sox:
Kyle Teel, C Everson Pereira, OF Austin Hays, OF Taj Bradley, SP Ky Bush, SP Prelander Berroa, SP Drew Thorpe, SP Mike Vasil, RP Brooks Baldwin, OF/IF Tanner Murray, IF/OFHence then, the article about surely this won t be an annoying weekend at all cubs vs white sox series preview was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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