Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox – Series Preview (May 15-17): Overview, Game and Broadcast Info, Starting Pitchers, W2W4
The Cubs (28-16) avoided a sweep against the Braves in Atlanta after dropping the first two games at Truist Park. The offense continued to scuffle, scoring just five runs in the three contests after suffering consecutive shutouts in Texas.
The North Siders finish up their road swing with a matchup close to home against the surprising White Sox (22-21) starting Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field. Expectations were not high on the South Side going into 2026, but second-year manager Will Venable has his team above .500 after a recent hot streak.
The Good Guys’ offense has made a remarkable turnaround from one of the worst in baseball a year ago to a .721 team OPS that ranks in the top 10. Japanese import Munetaka Murakami has been a revelation in his first season with 15 homers and a .904 OPS. Shortstop Colson Montgomery is off to a terrific start as well with 11 long balls and 29 RBI.
The pitching has been a bit more problematic, with a 4.22 team ERA that ranks 18th in MLB. Davis Martin has unexpectedly become the ace of the staff with a 1.62 ERA and 52 strikeouts in eight starts. The bullpen is a bit weaker, boasting a 4.46 ERA that ranks just 22nd. Closer Seranthony Dominguez has had a few rough outings, but left-handers Sean Newcomb and Bryan Hudson have been terrific in setup roles.
The South Siders always give their best effort against the Cubs, and they are decent for the first time in several years. This is not going to be easy for Craig Counsell and company, but it should be a lot of fun to watch.
Game Time and Broadcast Info
- Friday, May 15 at 6:40pm CT on Marquee.
- Saturday, May 16 at 6:10pm CT on Marquee.
- Sunday, May 17 at 1:10pm CT on Marquee.
Starting Pitchers
| Date | Pitcher | Age | T | ERA | W/L | FIP | K/BB |
| 5/15 | Edward Cabrera | 28 | R | 3.88 | 3-1 | 4.25 | 2.87 |
| Sean Burke | 26 | R | 3.68 | 2–3 | 3.83 | 3.60 | |
| 5/16 | Jameson Taillon | 34 | R | 3.94 | 2-2 | 5.67 | 2.50 |
| Davis Martin | 29 | R | 1.62 | 5-1 | 2.33 | 5.20 | |
| 5/17 | Colin Rea | 35 | R | 4.68 | 4-2 | 4.24 | 2.77 |
| Erick Fedde | 33 | R | 3.77 | 0-4 | 6.04 | 1.86 |
What to Watch For
- Alex Bregman is currently on a five-game hitting streak after a slow start to the season.
- Dansby Swanson is in a major slump, batting .146 so far in May.
- The last time the Cubs and White Sox played each other when both teams had winning records was in 2020.
- Cabrera has looked a little shaky in his most recent outings.
