The Crosstown Cup hasn't featured a clean sweep since 1998, but the Chicago Cubs have a chance to change that Monday when they wrap up their interleague rivalry with the Chicago White Sox on the South Side. The Cubs dominated the three games the teams played in May, outscoring the White Sox 24-6, and they'll try to maintain that control in the makeup game from a rainout on May 28. The Cubs are credited with the only sweep since the crosstown rivals began playing annually in 1997, claiming all three meetings in 1998.
The White Sox have lost nine of their last 11 and look to bounce back from a three-game sweep at Tampa Bay in which they managed only four runs. The Cubs are coming off consecutive series against division leaders and they held their own, suffering a pair of one-run losses while dropping two of three at Oakland before claiming two of three from Pittsburgh. Both teams figure to be sellers in the trade market, and the Cubs' top trade prospect is right-hander Matt Garza, who will get the start Monday.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, WCIU (Cubs), CSN Chicago (White Sox)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Matt Garza (4-1, 3.45 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Hector Santiago (3-5, 3.50)
Garza might be the top starting pitcher on the trade market after four consecutive dominant outings, the last three of which resulted in wins. He has allowed three runs in 30 innings over his last four starts and beat Oakland his last time out, giving up one run on four hits over eight frames. Garza is 2-3 with a 4.70 ERA in seven starts against the White Sox.
Santiago has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen, but he made a strong case to stick as a starter his last time out, holding Baltimore to two runs over seven innings in a tough-luck loss. He has been inconsistent, though, and was shelled for five runs in 2 1/3 innings in his previous start. Santiago worked in relief against the Cubs on May 29 and gave up two runs in 1 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Alfonso Soriano is expected to be the designated hitter for the Cubs on Monday, which has often been the case when playing in AL parks this season. Soriano is 8-for-17 with two doubles and two homers as the DH this year.
2. White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham went 2-for-4 on Sunday and is 11-for-22 over his past six games.
3. The Cubs are 6-40 when allowing four or more runs and 32-8 when giving up three or fewer.