Chicago @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( May 28, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 0, Chi. White Sox 0
The Crosstown Cup series shifts to Wrigley Field on Wednesday as the Chicago Cubs look to pick up where they left off before heavy rain postponed their four-game, two-stadium series against the White Sox. The Cubs won Monday's opener 7-0 and jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Tuesday's contest at U.S. Cellular Field was washed out in the third inning. They are looking to tie a season high with their third straight win.
The White Sox have won nine of 13, but they have been prone to offensive outages such as Monday's two-hit performance that dropped them back below .500. They have been shut out four times and scored three runs or fewer on 25 occasions. The Cubs also have struggled at the plate at times, but they actually stand to get a boost from returning home and dumping the DH, as Cubs pitchers lead the majors with 15 RBIs - all this month.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, WGN (White Sox), CSN (Cubs)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH John Danks (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Scott Feldman (4-4, 2.80)
Danks was solid, if unspectacular, in his season debut Friday, allowing three runs on four hits over six innings in a no-decision against Miami. It was his first big-league start since May 19 of last year, when he tossed 6 1/3 scoreless frames against the Cubs at Wrigley. Danks is 3-1 with a 2.30 ERA in five career starts against the North Siders.
After a stretch of five consecutive quality starts, Feldman ran into trouble his last time out, as he gave up a pair of homers and was tagged for five runs in 5 1/3 innings in a loss to Cincinnati. Feldman has seen plenty of the White Sox from his days in the American League - he is 3-2 with a 4.33 ERA in 13 games (seven starts) against them.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox RF Alex Rios, who has hit safely in 19 of his last 21 games, is 10-for-29 with four doubles and two home runs against Feldman.
2. Although he usually sits against left-handed pitching, Cubs CF David DeJesus is expected to start. He is 8-for-23 with a pair of doubles versus Danks.
3. The White Sox have not been shut out in consecutive games since April 23-24, 2011, and the Cubs have not posted consecutive shutouts since Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2010.
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, White Sox 3