Chicago @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( May 29, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 3, Chi. Cubs 9
Facing the rival Chicago White Sox has brought out the best in the bats of the Chicago Cubs, who hope to continue their hot hitting and finish a three-game sweep when the Crosstown Cup series wraps up Thursday at Wrigley Field. After a 7-0 win in the opener and a rainout Tuesday, the Cubs matched their season-high for runs in Wednesday's 9-3 victory. The Cubs have equaled a season best with a three-game winning streak.
The White Sox hope right-hander Jake Peavy can cool off the Cubs' bats. Peavy is 7-3 with a 2.23 ERA in 13 starts against the North Siders. The White Sox also need their offense to come to life, as they have scored three or fewer runs in 26 of 50 games - including five of their past seven. With a win, the Cubs would clinch the Crosstown Cup for the first time since 2007 - and fourth time since interleague play began in 1997.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago (White Sox), WGN (Cubs)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Jake Peavy (6-2, 2.97 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (4-3, 2.73)
Peavy is coming off his best outing of the season, a complete-game victory over Miami in which he allowed one run on six hits. He has recorded quality starts in seven of his nine outings this season and has notched at least five strikeouts in all nine.
Wood saw his streak of nine straight quality starts to begin the season come to an end in his last time out, as he allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings in a loss at Cincinnati. Wood faced the White Sox for the first time last year and defeated them, allowing one run over six innings of four-hit ball.
WALK-OFFS
1. The total of 16 runs in back-to-back games is the most for the Cubs since scoring 19 in consecutive contests on Sept. 15-16, 2012.
2. Cubs LF Alfonso Soriano is 9-for-29 with three doubles and three home runs against Peavy. Soriano has five RBIs in his past four games.
3. Cubs RHP Kyuji Fujikawa will have Tommy John surgery. Fujikawa, who was signed to a two-year, $9.5 million contract in the offseason, was 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA and two saves in 12 appearances.
PREDICTION: White Sox 4, Cubs 3