Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox preview, Saturday 5/17, 1:20 CT

The Cubs go for the series win.

Saturday notes…

• CUBS vs. SOX, ALMOST EVEN: Friday’s win was the Cubs’ sixth straight over the White Sox and their seventh in eight games since 2023. Another win today would not only clinch the weekend series but even the all-time regular-season rivalry at 74 wins. The Cubs are 36-38 at home and 37-36 on the South Side. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• CUBS vs. SOX, RUN SCORING: Yesterday’s 13-3 thumping left the all-time score at Cubs 690, White Sox 671. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• CUBS vs. SOX, STREAKING: The Cubs’ win Friday was their sixth straight against the Sox, which ties their longest winning streak over the South Siders (also June 22, 2007-June 22, 2008).
• DANSBY KEEPS GOING: Dansby Swanson extended his on-base streak to 16 games. In the streak he is batting .382/.444/.691 (21-for-55) with two doubles, five home runs, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

White Sox lineup:

Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. Sean Burke, RHP

Matthew Boyd continues to pitch well. He has allowed three or fewer earned runs in all eight of his starts, and two or fewer in six of those. Plus, he’s thrown six innings in five of the eight. Really, the Cubs couldn’t have asked for more.

His last start against the White Sox was Sept. 11, 2024 on the South Side. He allowed four runs (one earned) in 4⅓ innings and struck out nine.

I suspect he’ll go farther than that in this start.

Sean Burke was the White Sox’ third-round pick in 2021 out of Maryland — Burke and Matt Shaw (and Ben Cowles) were teammates there.

In 13 appearances (11 starts) for the Sox last year and this, Burke has a 3.32 ERA. It’s a bit higher this year — 4.15 — but over his last five games (four starts) it’s just 2.08, so he’s trending up.

He’s never faced the Cubs or anyone on their active roster.

Baseball Savant

Baseball Savant

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. You can find out if Marquee is available via a provider in your area here. It’s also on Chicago Sports Network (Sox announcers).

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

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 2025 Game Thread procedure will be identical to last year’s.

You’ll find the game preview 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, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.