The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox will wrap up their brief two-game series on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field. You can throw records and statistics out the window when these two rivals take the field. The Chicago White Sox stunned the Cubs with a 3-1 victory in the series opener and will be looking to win their second straight game from their rivals in this contest.
The Cubs are supposed to be one of the top teams in the National League, but they have been extremely inconsistent this season. The Cubs come into this game with a record of 39-33 and are in second place in the National League Central Division. The White Sox improved their record to 35-36 with the win on Tuesday night and are climbing back into the race in the American League. There is still plenty of work to do by the White Sox, but they look to be ready to contend in the future. The Chicago Cubs are -143 over the Chicago White Sox in game two of the series on Wednesday night.
Giolito Has Been Dominant
The Chicago White Sox will have their ace on the mound on Wednesday night, and he has been one of the best pitchers in the American League. Lucas Giolito has been labeled a top prospect for the last few years, but he has officially arrived. Giolito is 10-1 with a 2.22 earned run average this season and has electric stuff. The hard-throwing right-hander hasn’t lost a start since April 6 and will be looking to keep that trend going against his cross-town rival.
Eloy Jimenez was the hero in game one of the series on Tuesday night, blasting a go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning to give the Sox a 3-1 lead. Jimenez now has 12 home runs and 27 runs batted in during his first campaign in the big leagues. First baseman Jose Abreu leads the team with 19 home runs and 54 runs batted in and will be an All-Star again this season. The White Sox don’t have a great offense yet, but they are building something special.
Cubs Just Can’t Find Enough Offense
Even though the Cubs are the third-highest scoring team in the National League, they haven’t looked like that team in recent games. Kyle Schwarber led off the game with a home run on Tuesday night, but that was the only offense that the Cubs could muster. The Cubs are averaging more than five runs per game this season but would settle for three in this game against Giolito and the White Sox.
Jon Lester will be on the mound for the Cubs, and he has been struggling of late as well. Lester has gone just 3-4 in his last seven starts after getting off to a great start this season. The veteran is 5-5 with a 4.08 earned run average this season and will need to be at his best if the Cubs are going to win.
Cubs Stun Giolito, White Sox
Lucas Giolito just hasn’t been losing any games of late, but that is going to change on Wednesday night. The Cubs are always capable of breaking out with a big offensive performance, and that will be the case in this game. Jon Lester will be up for the task, and the Cubs are going to even up this brief two-game series. Bet the Chicago Cubs -143 over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
