Right-hander Sean Burke takes the mound for the White Sox, looking to bounce back from Friday's 13-3 loss to the Cubs as the Crosstown Classic continues Saturday at Wrigley Field.
In his last start Sunday against the Marlins, Burke had some control issues to begin the game. He walked five batters in the first three innings, including a leadoff walk. White Sox manager Will Venable sees avoiding early trouble like that as a step in Burke's development as a 25-year-old pitcher.
"That's going to be part of having good, quality starts is coming out ready to go and attacking the zone," Venable said pregame. "He's seen on a couple times what happens when that doesn't happen. There's been times when there's been walks and he's gotten bailed out to be honest. That's part of his development is coming out here ready to go and attacking the zone. Great opportunity to do that today."
On the other side, the Cubs turn to left-hander Matthew Boyd. He signed a two-year, $29 million contract with the Cubs before the season, and he's been everything they've hoped and then some. Boyd has a 2.78 ERA, which ranks eighth among National League starting pitchers. He also has five quality starts in his first eight tries. In the three that are not considered quality starts, he's pitched at least five innings with no more than two earned runs.
Here's more information on Saturday's game.
White Sox
- Chase Meidroth, SS
- Miguel Vargas, 3B
- Edgar Quero, C
- Luis Robert Jr., CF
- Andrew Vaughn, DH
- Lenyn Sosa, 2B
- Tim Elko, 1B
- Joshua Palacios, RF
- Michael A. Taylor, LF
Cubs
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
- Kyle Tucker, RF
- Seiya Suzuki, LF
- Michael Busch, 1B
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Moisés Ballesteros, DH
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Miguel Amaya, C
- Vidal Bruján, 3B
