Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
CWS	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	10	0
CHC	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	8	1

Kevin Gausman gets the ball for the Cubs against Bryan Hudson and the White Sox for the 7:05 PM CT finale at Wrigley Field, closing out this year's North Side leg of the Crosstown Classic. It's a mismatch on paper in terms of stakes: Chicago's South Siders own first place in the AL Central, while the Cubs are still hunting for their footing after a bumpy stretch.

Show fees

FINAL

Spread

ML

Total

White Sox(65-59)

LWWWL

3

+1.5-127+160o7.5-194

Cubs(73-53)

WLLWL

4

-1.5+125-163u7.5+186

Best BetCubs -163

Pregame

The Cubs are the more talented roster on paper and get the platform of a real starter, even an inconsistent one, against a White Sox plan that leans on bullpen length before Hudson's even out of the first few innings. Gausman's debut flashed frontline stuff, and Wrigley's crowd should be fully engaged for a rivalry finale. It's a bet on quality arms eventually winning out over name value in the standings.

Both clubs are dealing with real absences behind the dish and on the mound. The White Sox are down both of their catchers, with Kyle Teel and Joey Bart on the injured list, while the Cubs are working without shortstop Dansby Swanson (oblique) and outfielder Matt Shaw, who's just now working back through a rehab assignment. Add in a Cubs bullpen that's lost closer Daniel Palencia to a 60-day IL stint along with Phil Maton and Shelby Miller, and neither dugout is at full strength for this one.

Bryan Hudson

(3-4)·3.35 ERA

Jul 11 vs Athletics

ND

1.0IP

0ER

0K

0BB

7P

08/18 Lineup

Kevin Gausman

(6-11)·4.58 ERA

Aug 13 @ Nationals

L

4.2IP

6ER

7K

1BB

93P

08/18 Lineup

None of that changes what's at stake. The White Sox arrive off a sweep of Detroit that pushed their divisional lead, and Wednesday's game closes out a series the Cubs opened by walking the Sox off. Whichever bullpen holds up better late tends to decide games like this, and both teams know it.

Chicago White Sox

(65-59)

Aug 18L@ Cubs5-7

Aug 16W@ Tigers7-5

Aug 15W@ Tigers4-3

Aug 14W@ Tigers9-5

Aug 13Lvs Reds8-9

Chicago Cubs

(73-53)

Aug 18Wvs White Sox7-5

Aug 16Lvs Cardinals4-11

Aug 15Lvs Cardinals4-8

Aug 14Wvs Cardinals3-0

Aug 13L@ Nationals0-7

Hudson's usage says plenty about how the White Sox plan to attack this game. He's been one of the best relievers in baseball over the past several weeks, and his most recent outing was a single scoreless inning on seven pitches — the profile of a bulk arm or opener, not a traditional starter stretching into the sixth. That plan has worked because the rest of Chicago's pen has held up, but it also means length is a question mark against a Cubs lineup that already touched them up in the series opener.

Chicago White Sox

(11)

• 10-Day-ILKyle Teel (C) — Teel (ankle) will participate in batting practice Monday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.08/17
• 10-Day-ILJoey Bart (C) — White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Friday that Bart is expected to be sidelined for "over a month" due to a left hand fracture, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.08/07
• 15-Day-ILDavis Martin (SP) — Martin was ejected from Thursday's start against the Reds in the third inning after hitting Sal Stewart with a pitch, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.08/14
• 15-Day-ILChris Murphy (RP) — Murphy will serve as the White Sox's opener for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.08/07
• 60-Day-ILDrew Thorpe (SP) — Thorpe (elbow) struck out six and allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks across five innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Charlotte.08/13
• 60-Day-ILJordan Leasure (RP) — Leasure (forearm) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions, MLB.com reports.08/01
• 60-Day-ILPrelander Berroa (RP) — The White Sox announced Saturday that Berroa (elbow) will start throwing again in 1-to-2 weeks, MLB.com reports.07/07
• 60-Day-ILKy Bush (SP) — Bush (elbow) has resumed participating in long toss, MLB.com reports.07/05
• 60-Day-ILMike Vasil (RP) — The White Sox transferred Vasil (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.05/08
• 60-Day-ILTanner Murray (LF) — The White Sox transferred Murray (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Monday.05/08
• 60-Day-ILBrooks Baldwin (LF) — The White Sox transferred Baldwin (elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08

Chicago Cubs

(15)

• 10-Day-ILMatt Shaw (RF) — Shaw (hand) is scheduled to embark on a rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Iowa, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.08/17
• 10-Day-ILDansby Swanson (SS) — The Cubs placed Swanson (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.08/17
• 15-Day-ILEdward Cabrera (SP) — Cabrera pitched through a blister on his right middle finger during his start in Sunday's 11-4 loss to the Cardinals, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. He dropped to 5-5 on the season after striking out two batters while allowing seven earned runs on six hits and three walks across 3.2 innings.08/17
• 15-Day-ILPhil Maton (RP) — Maton has been diagnosed with a partial patellar tendon tear in his right knee, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/12
• 15-Day-ILGavin Hollowell (RP) — The Cubs placed Hollowell on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.07/31
• 15-Day-ILHoby Milner (RP) — Milner (abdomen) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, tossing a scoreless inning.07/30
• 60-Day-ILDaniel Palencia (RP) — The Cubs transferred Palencia (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Monday, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.08/17
• 60-Day-ILBen Brown (RP) — Brown (neck) threw a bullpen session at Wrigley Field on Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.08/14
• 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — Miller (elbow) began a rehab assignment Sunday at Triple-A Iowa, striking out two batters while allowing one run on two hits and no walks.08/09
• 60-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — Manager Craig Counsell announced July 8 that Martin (elbow) has resumed a throwing program at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.08/06
• 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — Harvey (triceps/shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/05
• 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Steele (elbow) will throw from flat ground and then toss 20 pitches off a mound Saturday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.07/31
• 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
• 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
• 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08

Gausman, meanwhile, is still writing his first chapter in a Cubs uniform after the trade-deadline move from Toronto. His stuff looked every bit the part in his debut, but his following start against Washington got out of hand in a hurry. Which version shows up at Wrigley says a lot about whether the Cubs can salvage anything positive out of a rough week before the Crosstown rivalry goes dormant for the year.