Cubs at White Sox
The Chicago Cubs look to finish the last week before the All-Star break on a strong note when they travel across town to meet the improving Chicago White Sox on Saturday night to open a two-game interleague set. The Cubs snapped a four-game losing streak with an 11-3 triumph at Pittsburgh on Thursday and began Friday in a tie for the top spot in the National League Central despite going 9-15 in their last 24 contests.
“We’ve been having a lot of tough times,” Chicago catcher Willson Contreras, who is 6-for-13 in his last three games, told reporters after Thursday’s victory. “There’s two more games to play, but we’re still looking forward.” Kris Bryant is 13-for-33 in his last eight outings overall after belting a solo homer among four hits Thursday for the Cubs and went 4-for-8 in a two-game split last month against the White Sox, who have won five of their last seven contests to stay relevant in the American League wild-card chase. Yoan Moncada is 17-for-46 with four homers during an 11-game hitting streak for the White Sox while teammate Jose Abreu boasts eight hits in 19 at-bats over the past four contests. Right-hander Lucas Giolito, who will make his first trip to the All-Star Game next week, gets the start in the series opener for the White Sox and the Cubs counter with veteran lefty Jon Lester, who is 10-6 in his career against the cross-city rivals.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (7-6, 3.89 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (11-2, 2.72)
Lester won four of six decisions in June despite posting a 4.33 ERA overall after suffering a loss at Cincinnati on Sunday when he allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings. The 35-year-old Washington native boasts 90 strikeouts across 88 innings this year while walking 20, but served up eight homers in his past five outings. Abreu is 6-for-18 with a double and a homer versus Lester, who gave up three runs over 5 2/3 innings in a victory over the White Sox and Giolito on June 19.
Giolito rebounded from two disappointing outings by allowing one hit over five scoreless innings with four strikeouts in a victory against Minnesota on Sunday. The 24-year-old California native gave up six runs over 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the Cubs on June 19 before yielding three runs across 5 2/3 frames against Boston in a no-decision five days later. Contreras is 2-for-7 with a pair of homers against Giolito, who is allowing opponents a .191 batting average.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox 2B Yolmer Sanchez, who is 7-for-17 in the last five games, took three stitches in his hand Thursday but could play this weekend.
2. Cubs RF Jason Heyward (back, hip) missed the last two games and is questionable for the weekend series.
3. The White Sox entered Friday 26th in the majors in ERA (5.07) and the Cubs were eighth (4.13).