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The White Sox come into this game 4.5 games ahead of Minnesota for the AL Central Division lead and are 5-5 in their last 10, but have been very hot lately as they ride a three-game win streak. The Sox are slightly underperforming their expected 44-28 record with a still strong mark of 41-31, 17-20 on the road. The Pale Hose have scored 356 runs and given up 274. (For comparison, the Cubs have scored 396 and allowed 295.) Using this season's numbers, the Cubs should have an offensive advantage, as they lead baseball in BA, OBP, 2nd in R, and are 3rd in BB. The Sox are 11th in BA, 9th in OBP, 6th in R, and 14th in BB.  Lately, however, the Cubs offense has struggled (as they have on the road all season) and the Sox are firing on all cylinders, so this may be a lot closer than it appears.

On the pitching side of things, the White Sox and Cubs are close, but the South Siders should have a slight edge. The White Sox are first in ERA (Cubs 3rd), 3rd in fewest hits (Cubs 4th), 2nd in RA (Cubs 4th), 2nd in HR allowed (an impressive 54, while the Cubs have allowed 70, good for 15th-T). The Sox have walked just 202 in 650.2 IP (2.79 BB/9), and the Cubs have walked 252 in 654.2 (3.46 BB/9). In strikeouts, the Sox have fanned 510 (7.06 SO/9), the Cubs 538 (7.01 SO/9).

So the two are pretty close by the numbers. In the last 10, the Sox are 5-5 and the Cubs 6-4, but the Tampa Bay series was a tough one while the Sox absolutely creamed the Pirates.  However, despite the disappointing sweep at the hands (fins?) of the Rays, the Cubs' offense has been significantly worse on the road all season, and you can't expect the bullpen to have a similar meltdown again.  It will be up to the Cubs to shake off the road blues and get back to the hot hitting and great pitching that has allowed them to go 29-8 at Wrigley Field.

Pitching Matchups (information in scouting reports from MLB.com)

Friday:

50 John Danks LHP (4-4, 2.90 ERA, 80.7 IP, 77 H, 26 ER, 6 HR, BB/SO: 24/61, 150 ERA+, 1.252 WHIP)
vs
30 Ted Lilly LHP (7-5, 4.76 ERA, 85.0 IP, 82 H, 45 ER, 14 HR, BB/SO: 31/83, 93 ERA+, 1.329 WHIP)

Danks is coming off an interesting outing Saturday against Colorado. He didn't give up any runs in 6 IP but runners did reach third base in four different innings. Danks hasn't lost since May 24 and will face the Cubs for the first time in his career. He's 0-1, 5.31 ERA in four interleague games.

RESULT: CUBS 4, WHITE SOX 3

W: K. Wood
L: S. Linebrink

Saturday:

52 Jose Contreras RHP (6-5, 3.24 ERA, 95.0 IP, 84 H, 34 ER, 4 HR, BB/SO: 24/55, 134 ERA+, 1.145 WHIP)
vs
21 Jason Marquis RHP (5-3, 4.24 ERA, 74.3 IP, 81 H, 35 ER, 6 HR, BB/SO: 30/37, 105 ERA+, 1.493 WHIP)

Contreras went 6.2 against Colorado on Sunday, allowing three earned runs and striking out three. His last pitch was a Brad Hawpe home run that put Colorado up 4-3. The Cubs have lost three straight for the first time all season, and Contreras can sympathize: he lost back-to-back starts for the first time in 2008. He took the loss against the Cubs last year after "scattering" 10 hits but only giving up 2 runs.

RESULT: CUBS 11, WHITE SOX 7

W: J. Marquis
L: J. Contreras
S: K. Wood

Sunday:

33 Javier Vazquez RHP (7-5, 4.13 ERA, 96.0 IP, 102 H, 44 ER, 11 HR, BB/SO: 24/93, 106 ERA+, 1.313 WHIP)
vs
46 Ryan Dempster RHP (8-2, 2.76 ERA, 94.2 IP, 66 H, 29 ER, 9 HR, BB/SO: 37/81, 161 ERA+, 1.088 WHIP)

Vazquez got roughed up by the Pirates Tuesday night, giving up 5 runs in 6 and striking out 3. But thanks to the South Siders' excellent offense, Javier still got a W. He's allowed 14 runs in his last three starts but is getting plenty of run support to go 3-0. He has a 4.95 ERA in his career against the Cubs, but his control has been excellent: two walks, 23 strikeouts.

It won't be the same home advantage the Cubs have enjoyed all year in terms of crowd composition, but it WILL be Wrigley Field, where the Cubs have played great ball.  Can the Sox continue to get league-best pitching even against the league's best offense?  Similarly, can the Cubs get some runs against baseball's best pitching staff after going cold in sunny Tampa?  Will the Cubs' bullpen get back on track?  Will the entire bleachers get arrested??  We'll find out tomorrow!