Game One Hundred Fourteen: Cubs (65-48) vs. White Sox (54-58)
- Game Time – 3:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 177, 844
- Location – U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago
Kyle Hendricks (6-5, 3.73/1.16/3.41) vs. Jeff Samardzija (8-7, 4.62/1.22/3.82)
The Cubs hit the road and will spend the next three days at The Cell on the South Side. It’s round two of the Crosstown Cup Series and the Sox are a win away from retaining The Cup for the year. The Cubs dropped two of three to the Southsiders at Wrigley before the break and are facing the Sox at the wrong time again.
The Sox are riding high after completing the three-game sweep over the Angels. The Sox begin the weekend 13 games behind the Royals in the division and tied with the Tigers in the AL Wild Card race. The Sox are five back of the Angels with four teams in front of them.
The Cubs are riding a season-long seven-game winning streak and will have to deal with Jeff Samardzija and Chris Sale this weekend. After today’s match-up of Kyle Hendricks and Samardzija, Jake Arrieta is scheduled to face Jose Quintana on Saturday night. The last game of the year with the Sox is Dan Haren versus Chris Sale on Sunday afternoon.
The Cubs are 6-7 in Interleague play this season and have four more games with the Junior Circuit on the schedule after Sunday (Tigers at Wrigley, Aug. 18-19; Indians at Wrigley, Aug. 24; Royals at Wrigley, Sept. 28).
The Cubs and White Sox will honor Ernie Banks and Minnie Minoso this afternoon. There will be tribute videos to both legends and the Cubs will wear road throwback uniforms from the 1950s while the White Sox will each wear throwback uniforms with Mr. Minoso’s No. 9.
The Cubs must jump on Jeff Samardzija early and make sure his first inning struggles continue. Samardzija will be fired up facing his former team after he was unable to pitch his way out of Chicago.
Today all starts with Kyle Hendricks …
Kyle Hendricks had a good outing against the Giants last Saturday. Hendricks held the Giants offense to three runs on five hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. Hendricks struck out five in 5 1/3 innings and since back-to-back rough starts against the Reds and Rockies, Hendricks has been pretty good.
Since the break, Hendricks is 2-1 in five starts with a 4.34 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. Over his last two starts, 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
Outside of Wrigley this year, Hendricks is 4-3 in 12 games with a 4.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP (34 runs, 31 earned, on 71 hits with 14 walks and 54 strikeouts in 69 2/3 innings). Hendricks makes his third Interleague start today and faces the Sox for the second time.
Kyle Hendricks received a no-decision in a 1-0 loss to the Sox back on July 10. Hendricks tossed seven innings of shutout ball, allowed five hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The Sox scored the only run on a sac fly in the eighth inning off Hector Rondon. Hendricks makes his second career start and first appearance at The Cell today.
White Sox Career Numbers against Kyle Hendricks
- Jose Abreu: 1-for-2
- Melky Cabrera: 1-for-3
- Adam Eaton: 0-for-3
- Tyler Flowers: 1-for-3
- Avisail Garcia: 0-for-3
- Tyler Saladino: 0-for-3
- Carlos Sanchez: 2-for-3
The Cubs face former teammate Jeff Samardzija for the first time today. Samardzija will be out to prove a point and when he is focused he can be among the best starters in baseball. Consistency has always been Samardzija’s problem. If the Cubs allow him to settle in and do not jump on him early, Samardzija could end up with a dominating performance, if not a no-hitter.
Samardzija tried to pitch his way out of the South Side, but the Sox got hot and Rick Hahn did not move Samardzija. The incredibly talented right hander was 3-1 in five starts in July with a 2.27 ERA and 0.81 WHIP, his best month of the season. Over his last two starts, Samardzija is 0-2 with a 15.43 ERA and 1.93 WHIP.
At The Cell this year, Samardzija is 4-3 in 10 starts with a 3.82 ERA and 1.12 WHIP.
Jeff Samardzija has allowed 21 runs on 34 hits with eight walks and 11 strikeouts in the first inning (7.43 ERA) this season (23 games) and opponents have hit .351/.404/.567 against him. Get Samardzija early should be the talk in the dugout.
Cubs Career Numbers against Jeff Samardzija
- Dexter Fowler: 4-for-18 with one triple, one home run and one walk
- Miguel Montero: 3-for-8 with one triple and four walks
- Jonathan Herrera: 0-for-6
- Chris Coghlan: 1-for-6
- Chris Denorfia: 0-for-5 with one walk
- David Ross: 0-for-1
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …