Sunday notes…
- SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE: This is the 21st of the Cubs’ 59-regular season series against the White Sox in which the teams have split the first two games. The Cubs won a third game six times and lost it seven times. There was no third game seven times. The Cubs are 1-5 in third games after winning, then losing, including 1-4 on the road. The win was in the last such game, in 2020. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- DAY GAMES ON THE ROAD: The Cubs lost their first day game of the year on the road, by 4-1 at Cleveland on April 3. Two days later, in Game 1 of a doubleheader, they beat the Guardians, 1-0. Beginning with a 4-1 loss in Game 2, they have dropped five of six day games as the visiting team. The win was by 5-4 at San Diego on April 29. Their only such game since then was last Sunday, when they lost, 3-0, at Texas. They are 1-3 in all day games on the road on Sundays. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- THE BUSCH LEAGUE: Michael Busch extended his on-base streak to a career-high tying 17 games in which he is batting .286/.453/.464 (16-for-56) with five doubles, a triple, a home run, 17 walks and 13 RBI.
- TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Sean Marshall and three relievers combine on a one-hit shutout of the Nationals at Wrigley Field. The only Nats hit is a leadoff single by Alfonso Soriano in the sixth. The Cubs win the game 5-0. It happened 20 years ago today, Wednesday, May 17, 2006.
Cubs lineup:
White Sox lineup:
Colin Rea, RHP vs. Erick Fedde, RHP
Colin Rea was going along pretty well and then the Braves torched him pretty good last Tuesday in Atlanta.
But, I’d say Rea does well enough for a fifth starter type. Eats innings, and most of the time gives you a decent outing.
Against the Sox almost exactly a year ago, May 18, 2025 at Wrigley Field, Rea held the Sox to one run in 5.1 innings. We’ll take another one like that today, please.
Erick Fedde… what year is this, 2024?
Fedde pitched for the Sox that year, then was shipped away to the Cardinals in a three-way deal that brought Miguel Vargas to the South Side. Since then he’s also pitched for the Braves and Brewers before he came back to the Sox as a free agent this past offseason.
He has pitched well enough for the Sox (3.77 ERA, 1.163 WHIP) in eight games (six starts) that, well, they could flip him again if they fall out of contention.
The Cubs hit him hard twice last year when he was with St. Louis — 10 earned runs in five innings. Dansby Swanson is 10-for-27 (.370) against Fedde with a double.
Here is the weather forecast for the area around Rate Field.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. It’s also on Chicago Sports Network and WCIU-Ch. 26 with the Sox announcers.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation White Sox site South Side Sox. If you do go there to interact with Sox fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!