White Sox at Cubs
Gordon
Beckham’s eighth-inning homer gave round one of this year’s crosstown
grudge match to the White Sox 3-2, sending the Cubs to their fourth
straight loss. The last two of those defeats have come by one run,
leaving the Cubs at the bottom of the National League Central. The White
Sox, meanwhile, have crept back to within 3 1/2 games of first-place
Cleveland in the American League Central after Friday’s victory. The
Cubs maintain a slim 39-36 edge in regular-season play against their
South Side rivals despite dropping five of the last six meetings.
The
Cubs have gotten much better pitching than they did a year ago, but
have wasted that improvement - Saturday starter Ryan Dempster is still
looking for his first win despite allowing eight earned runs all year.
The White Sox have also gotten some strong starting pitching, but
left-hander John Danks, who takes the mound Saturday, has been the weak
link in an otherwise impressive rotation. White Sox first baseman Paul
Konerko, who was hit in the head by a pitch Friday, will be evaluated
again before Saturday’s game but is unlikely to play.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox (national)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH John Danks (2-4, 6.46 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Ryan Dempster (0-1, 1.74)
Though
the White Sox have won his last two starts, Danks has struggled for
much of the season, allowing 35 runs (34 earned) in 47 1/3 innings. He
lasted only three innings in his last trip to the mound (nine hits, five
runs, three walks versus Detroit on May 14), the fifth time this season
Danks has allowed at least four runs. He is 2-1 with a solid 2.88 ERA
in four starts against the Cubs.
Dempster’s teammates totaled
only eight runs in losing his first five starts. The veteran
right-hander gave up only four earned runs in those games, and even
after a rough outing at St. Louis on May 14 (six innings pitched, nine
hits, four runs), he still ranks second in the NL in ERA. In 13 career
games (six starts) against the White Sox, Dempster is 2-4 with a 4.89
ERA and three saves.
WALK-OFFS
1. The White Sox have been outstanding against the
National League in recent years, winning 43 of their last 59 interleague
contests overall with a 21-6 mark in their last 27 away games against
NL opponents.
2. Cubs right fielder David DeJesus is 8-for-23
(.348) with two doubles and five RBIs against Danks. His teammates,
though, are a combined 5-for-27 (.185) with no runs batted in.
3.
The White Sox are 24-for-80 against Dempster. Designated hitter/first
baseman Adam Dunn is 5-for-17 (.294), but has homered twice and drawn 10
walks. Shorstop Alexei Ramirez is 6-for-14 (.429) with a home run.