Chicago Cubs

Lucas Giolito, Jon Lester Set to Battle As White Sox Face Cubs

The two teams split the first two games of their season series in mid-June

The Chicago Cubs and White Sox split the first two games of their season series earlier this year, and they'll renew acquaintances on Saturday as they kick-off a two-game set at Guaranteed Rate Field. 

The Cubs, who lost three of four games to the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this week, are hoping to go into the All-Star break on a high note, but the White Sox are pushing to get back to the .500 mark before the midsummer break takes place. 

In the first two games of the season series, there were plenty of fireworks, as Eloy Jiménez launched a game-winning home run in the first game at Wrigley Field, and Willson Contreras launched a grand slam in the Cubs' victory in the second contest. 

Here is the Cubs' lineup for Game 1 on the South Side: 

1 Kyle Schwarber - LF 

2 Javier Báez - SS 

3 Kris Bryant - RF 

4 Anthony Rizzo - 1B 

5 Willson Contreras - C 

6 Jason Heyward - CF 

7 Robel Garcia - DH 

8 David Bote - 3B 

9 Addison Russell - 2B 

For the White Sox, they will send the man who has stepped into their top-starter role to the mound in this game, as Lucas Giolito will oppose Jon Lester. He will be backed up by the White Sox young stars, as well as his fellow All-Star reserves José Abreu and James McCann. 

Here is the Sox lineup: 

1 Leury García - SS 

2 Yoán Moncada - 3B 

3 José Abreu - 1B 

4 James McCann - C 

5 Eloy Jiménez - LF 

6 Jon Jay - DH 

7 Yolmer Sánchez - 2B 

8 Ryan Cordell - CF 

9 Charlie Tilson - RF 

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Jon Lester (7-6, 3.89 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 90 strikeouts) White Sox: Lucas Giolito (11-2, 2.72 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 115 strikeouts)

LINE: Cubs favored by 1 1/2 runs; over/under is 9 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: Chicago hosts Chicago to begin a two game series.

The White Sox are 24-19 in home games. Chicago's lineup has 101 home runs this season, Jose Abreu leads the club with 20 homers.

The Cubs are 17-26 in road games. Chicago has slugged .452, good for fourth in the National League. Willson Contreras leads the club with a .571 slugging percentage, including 33 extra-base hits and 18 home runs. This is the first game between these teams in 2019.

TOP PERFORMERS: Leury Garcia leads the White Sox with 92 hits and has 24 RBIs. James McCann is 13-for-41 with three doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs over the last 10 games for Chicago.

Javier Baez leads the Cubs with 22 home runs and is batting .288. Kris Bryant is 13-for-36 with five doubles, two home runs and three RBIs over the last 10 games for Chicago.

LAST 10 GAMES: White Sox: 5-5, .286 batting average, 5.66 ERA, outscored by 11 runs

Cubs: 3-7, .265 batting average, 6.20 ERA, outscored by 10 runs

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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