Cubs, White Sox open first Crosstown Classic series of summer at Rate Field

CHICAGO -- The first Crosstown Classic series of the summer begins Friday night on the South Side, with the Cubs and White Sox opening a three-game set at Rate Field.

The Cubs enter the series as the stronger team on paper. They sit atop the National League Central and have outscored opponents by 43 runs this season. Still, they arrive in Chicago trying to build off a needed reset after snapping a four-game losing streak Thursday with a 2-0 win over Atlanta. The question now is whether that shutout was the start of a turnaround or just a one-night breather.

On the other side, the White Sox have suddenly become one of the better stories in baseball. After sweeping Kansas City, Chicago has won five straight and climbed back to .500 at 22-21, which is something they haven't done since their 2023 season opener. 

For a team that has spent the past few seasons buried in a rebuild, that number means more than it might look like on paper. As for the rivalry, it's been nearly even since interleague play began in 1997, with the Cubs holding a narrow 77-75 edge over the White Sox. Including the 1906 World Series, which the White Sox won, the all-time matchup is tied at 79-79.

That sets up a strong recipe for chaos on the South Side with plenty of stakes and plenty of fan banter.