Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox preview, Sunday 8/23, 1:20 CT

Today’s roster move: Here

Sunday notes...

• IT MIGHT NOT SEEM THIS WAY, BUT: Cubs hitters have averaged 4.24 pitches per plate appearance, tops in the majors ahead of the Indians (4.13), Yankees (4.10) and Rays (4.09).
• WHEN THEY’RE GOOD, THEY’RE VERY, VERY GOOD, BUT: The Cubs have posted a 2.41 ERA (38 earned runs in 142 innings) with a .251 average (126-for-502) and an .821 OPS in their 16 victories, but in the team’s 10 losses, the club has an 8.05 ERA (76 earned runs in 85 innings) with a .185 average (58-for-314) and a .590 OPS.
• HAPP-ENINGS: Ian Happ is hitting .321 (17-for-53) with a .446 OBP from the left side of the plate, and he’s batting .311 (19-for-61) with a 1.130 OPS at Wrigley Field this year.
• HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To Cubs hitting coach Anthony Iapoce, who turns 47 today.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

White Sox lineup:

Yu Darvish, RHP vs. Dylan Cease, RHP

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

There used to be a term to describe a starting pitcher who was so good, or hot, that he could stop a losing streak — a “stopper.”

Yu Darvish could be that guy today. Last four starts: 1.04 ERA, 0.808 WHIP, five walks and 29 strikeouts in 26 innings, .180 opponents BA. He’s allowed only one home run all year — that sounds like what the Cubs need to stop the White Sox home-run barrage.

Darvish has not faced the White Sox since 2017, when he was with the Dodgers, and most of the Sox hitters who were in that August 16, 2017 game are gone. So past performance isn’t a guide — hopefully current performance is.

Well, we all know the story about Dylan Cease being included in the trade for Jose Quintana. We all know the talent he had in the Cubs system, and the talent he’s showing now.

He’s made five starts this year, most of them have been pretty good. He’s never faced the Cubs or anyone on the Cubs active roster, and you know how that sometimes goes.

Per Fangraphs, he throws four pitches but mostly relies on his fastball — which he can dial up to 97 — and slider.

Hopefully the Cubs pay the Sox back for this trade today.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. Here is a list of providers currently carrying Marquee. It’s also on NBC Sports Chicago with the Sox announcers Jason Benetti and Steve Stone.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation White Sox site South Side Sox. If you do go there to interact with White Sox fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2020 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used in previous years. Here’s how it works.

You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week/Date) game threads.” It will contain every thread related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.