CHICAGO — The 2025 Crosstown Classic is back to a six-chapter affair.
Following three seasons of playing each other just four times each — two games at each ballpark — due to some MLB scheduling changes, the Cubs and White Sox are back to playing six games against each other for the first time since 2021 in this season’s Crosstown Classic.
The first part of the 2025 edition is on the North Side this weekend, with three afternoon games at Wrigley Field from Friday through Sunday. The teams will then play a three-game weekend set on the South Side at Rate Field after the All-Star break, from July 25-27.
The Cubs can actually take the all-time Crosstown Classic lead with a sweep this weekend.
The South Siders still hold a 74-72 edge, but the North Siders have closed the gap over the last couple seasons, taking all four games in 2024 to run their Crosstown Classic winning streak to five going back to 2023.
Here’s what to know about the 2025 Crosstown Classic:
The schedule
Here are the dates and times (subject to change) for all six games, plus how you can watch or listen:
Friday, May 16: at Wrigley Field, 1:20 p.m.; TV: Marquee Sports Network, Chicago Sports Network, MLB Network (out-of-market only); Radio: 670 The Score, WRTO 1200, ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000.
Saturday, May 17: at Wrigley Field, 1:20 p.m.; TV: Marquee Sports Network, Chicago Sports Network; Radio: 670 The Score, WRTO 1200, ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000.
Sunday, May 18: at Wrigley Field, 1:20 p.m.; TV: Marquee Sports Network, Chicago Sports Network; Radio: 670 The Score, WRTO 1200, ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000.
Friday, July 25: at Rate Field, 6:40 p.m.; TV: Marquee Sports Network, Chicago Sports Network; Radio: 670 The Score, WRTO 1200, ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000, Sox Español.
Saturday, July 26: at Rate Field, 6:10 p.m.; TV: Marquee Sports Network, Chicago Sports Network; Radio: 670 The Score, WRTO 1200, ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000, Sox Español.
Sunday, July 27: at Rate Field, 1:10 p.m.; TV: Marquee Sports Network, Chicago Sports Network; Radio: 670 The Score, WRTO 1200, ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000, Sox Español.
Probable starters
Here are the probable starting pitchers for this weekend at Wrigley Field, per MLB.com:
GAME 1
White Sox: Shane Smith (1-2, 2.08 ERA); Cubs: Cade Horton (1-0, 6.75 ERA)
Now this is an intriguing matchup, as each team will have a promising young right-hander opposing each other on the mound Friday afternoon to kick off the 2025 Crosstown Classic.
Smith, snagged by the White Sox from the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason in MLB’s Rule 5 Draft, is off to a fantastic start to his big-league career, with 38 strikeouts, a 2.08 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP through eight starts. Horton, the Cubs’ top pitching prospect, made his MLB debut against the Mets in New York last week, striking out five and allowing three runs in four innings, all on a three-run homer.
GAME 2
White Sox: Sean Burke (2-4, 4.15 ERA); Cubs: Matthew Boyd (3-2, 2.78 ERA)
Burke, the 25-year-old right-hander, was the Opening Day starter for the White Sox and has been very good in three May starts, with a 1.10 ERA and just two runs allowed over 16 1/3 innings. Boyd, the 34-year-old veteran lefty, has been a great offseason pick-up for the Cubs, with no more than three earned runs allowed and a 1.30 WHIP in eight starts.
GAME 3
White Sox: Jonathan Cannon (2-4, 3.60 ERA); Cubs: Colin Rea (3-0, 2.48 ERA)
Cannon, 24, is another young righty trying to make his mark in the White Sox rotation, and he’s been solid in nine appearances and seven starts, with 39 strikeouts in 50 innings. Rea, like Boyd but from the right side, has been a valuable veteran offseason addition for the Cubs, stepping into the starting rotation with others injured and allowing two runs or fewer in five of his six starts.
Tickets and parking
To access tickets via the Cubs, and for all information on tickets and parking for the Crosstown Classic this weekend at Wrigley Field, visit mlb.com/cubs.
To access tickets via the White Sox, and for all information on tickets and parking for the Crosstown Classic later this season at Rate Field, visit mlb.com/whitesox.