The Cubs return to Chicago looking to regroup after a challenging trip.
While their nine-game trip isn’t technically over, they get a reprieve with an easy commute to the South Side this weekend for the City Series. The Cubs dropped two of three games in Texas and two of three in Atlanta, avoiding a sweep in the series finale Thursday with a 2-0 win against Chris Sale and the Braves.
The Sox head into the City Series playing their best baseball of the young season. They have won five straight and 11 of 15, including a 6-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night to complete a three-game sweep.
Every Friday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead — for the Cubs and White Sox.
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‘Juice’ on the South Side
White Sox catcher Edgar Quero looks to the ground as Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner reacts after scoring on July 27, 2025, at Rate Field. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Nico Hoerner has seen both sides of the City Series rivalry.
There haven’t been many meetings between the Cubs and White Sox when both organizations are playing well and trending up. But regardless of the state of the teams any given season, Hoerner always appreciates how Chicago comes together for the biannual series. The Cubs and Sox meet for the first time in 2026 on Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field, where packed crowds are expected all weekend.
“I love playing at that stadium,” Hoerner told the Tribune on Thursday. “I think it’s a cool vibe, especially the night games there, it’s all dark and the energy is fun. And you can tell the fans are into it, and it means a lot to people. Players are obviously aware of those things. And then for them to be creating a new identity with a lot of players that are having breakout seasons and Will Venable’s a really easy guy to root for, yeah, it’s exciting.
“As an athlete, it’s cool to be in settings where fans are passionate. And it’s a bit of a boiling point when you have two fan bases that coexist through all points of the year and then finally have a chance to go head-to-head.”
The Cubs hold the all-time series lead over the White Sox at 77-75, including winning nine of the last 10. Right-handers Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon and Colin Rea will start for the Cubs.
“It’s a fun series, and we welcome that,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Every player wants energy in the stadium and wants juice in the stadium. So anytime you’re going to a series like that you’re excited about it.”
Nicky Lopez gets to be on the other side of the rivalry this time. He started two of the City Series games in 2024 with the Sox, getting in the lineup for one game at each ballpark. The Naperville native understands the history of the franchises and what these games mean to both fan bases.
“They’re easy games to get up for,” Lopez told the Tribune. “Obviously every big-league game is, but both teams are wearing Chicago across their chest. The fans are into it. It’s one of those things that’s exciting when it approaches and one of those series that you look forward to.”
A lively atmosphere
White Sox starter Sean Burke, left, and catcher Edgar Quero cover their mouths while having a meeting on the mound in the second inning against the Cubs on May 17, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Sean Burke experienced the City Series for the first time last season, making one start and appearing in a bulk role during his two outings against the Cubs.
With the Sox in second place in the American League Central and the Cubs leading the National League Central this season, the right-hander is anticipating an electric feel around Rate Field when the teams meet this weekend.
Burke is slated to be on the mound for the Sox on Friday for the opener of the three-game series.
“I expect this place to be packed out,” Burke said Wednesday. “Definitely looking forward to throwing Friday night. With how we are playing right now, and they are having a good season, too, the weekend should be good.”
Burke comes into the start second among Sox starters with a 3.68 ERA in eight outings (six starts). He has 36 strikeouts and 10 walks in 44 innings.
“I’ve been doing a much better job of getting ahead of guys and being more efficient with my innings,” Burke said. “Making hitters be on the attack and forcing them to hit my stuff. The stuff isn’t too much different. The usage is a little bit different with throwing the two-seam a little bit more and adding the cutter.
“Trying to diversify my attack. You see (fellow Sox starter) Davis (Martin) throwing the kitchen sink at guys and trying to take a little bit of that and add it to my game.”
Martin is scheduled to start for the Sox on Saturday, followed by Erick Fedde in the series finale Sunday. As a group, Burke said the Sox are “never satisfied with where we are at.”
“Just keep winning games,” he said. “We are doing a pretty good job right now of just trying to stay series to series, game to game, trying to win that night and figure out the next day.
“You see the buy-in from everybody and everybody pulling on the same rope. It’s fun.”
Number of the week: 20
The Sox won their 20th game of the season Tuesday in their 41st game. They didn’t reach 20 victories last year until June 5, their 63rd game.
Week ahead: Cubs
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong walks back to the dugout after striking out against the Braves on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Atlanta. (Mike Stewart/AP)
Friday: vs. White Sox, 6:40 p.m., Marquee, CHSN, The U
Saturday: vs. White Sox, 6:10 p.m., Marquee, CHSN, The U
Sunday: vs. White Sox, 1:10 p.m., Marquee, CHSN, The U
Monday: vs. Brewers, 6:40 p.m., Marquee
Tuesday: vs. Brewers, 6:40 p.m., Marquee
Wednesday: vs. Brewers, 6:40 p.m., Marquee
Thursday: off
The trip hasn’t been the best stretch for the Cubs offense.
Despite scuffling, which includes a five-game stretch in which they have gone 1-for-34 with runners in scoring position while leaving 32 runners on base, the Cubs have been one of the most potent offenses in the majors this year. They entered Thursday’s series finale in Atlanta having scored the fourth-most runs in MLB with the second-best walk rate and third highest wRC+.
Only two teams are hitting better than .260 this season, with the Braves leading he way at .272. Scoring runs has seemingly become more challenging across MLB.
“What happened when the shift got banned, I think teams did go to defense more,” Counsell said. “So whether that took some hitters out of the game and put better defenders in the game, both of those things maybe are going to cause less offense. I think that probably did happen, probably subtly.
“The understanding of defense more and being able to evaluate it and more accurately evaluate it has underscored the importance of it, so teams have shifted to it.”
Week ahead: White Sox
White Sox right fielder Derek Hill receives a hug in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Royals on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Rate Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Friday: vs. Cubs, 6:40 p.m., CHSN, The U, Marquee
Saturday: vs. Cubs, 6:10 p.m., CHSN, The U, Marquee
Sunday: vs. Cubs, 1:10 p.m., CHSN, The U, Marquee
Monday: at Mariners, 8:40 p.m., CHSN
Tuesday: at Mariners, 8:40 p.m., CHSN
Wednesday: at Mariners, 3:10 p.m., CHSN
Thursday: off
With Wednesday’s 6-5 victory against the Royals, the Sox secured another series win.
The Sox have won four of their last five series. They took two of three at home against the Los Angeles Angels and then won two of three in San Diego.
After dropping two of three against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif., the Sox rebounded by winning two of three against the Seattle Mariners at Rate Field. They won the first two heading into Thursday’s conclusion of the three-game series against the Royals.
The Sox are 7-6-1 in series this season.
“You can see everyone is starting to be their true self,” shortstop Colson Montgomery said after Wednesday’s game. “I feel like when you are at your full true self is when you are most confident. Confidence is definitely infectious. So everyone is feeding off each other.
“No one is in here afraid to make mistakes. If you are in that mindset, you play free and easy and everyone is playing how they want to be playing.”
Montgomery credited the coaching staff for setting the tone.
“It starts with (manager) Will (Venable) and the rest of our coaches kind of preparing us for everything,” Montgomery said. “When you have that belief where you know your skip or whoever believes in you and your teammates, I think that’s where it starts. When everyone believes in each other. That’s where the confidence starts.”
What we’re reading today
Quotable
“They’re not going anywhere, that would be my guess. They’re not going anywhere. It’s a record that is earned and makes sense.” — Counsell on the Braves’ hot start to the season