Chicago Cubs News: Chicago White Sox series preview

Chicago Cubs: Yu Darvish will be making one last case for the Cy Young award as he gets set to square off against a former Cubs prospect.

Game One: Friday 7 pm Yu Darvish (8-3, 2.22 ERA) vs. Dylan Cease (5-3, 3.53 ERA)

The last time these two matched up, it was Darvish who edged Cease in a pitcher’s duel, resulting in a 2-1 Cubs win.

Darvish had one of his best performances of the season, slowing down a red-hot White Sox offense to hold off a series sweep: 7 IP 6 H 1 ER 1 BB 10 SO.

The last outing for Darvish against the Twins was statistically his worst in 2020, as he allowed four earned runs in six innings pitched.

Yu has been clutch for the Cubs all season when they’ve been in desperate need of a win, and I think we can expect another solid outing this time around.

Cease was not quite as dominant last time out against the Cubs, but still managed a solid outing against the team that traded him: 6 IP 4 H 2 ER 3 BB 5 SO.

Since then, Cease has not pitched more than five innings in his last five outings and has issued 20 walks in 22 innings pitched.

The Cubs hitters have looked lost at the plate during this slump; they can’t afford to help Cease out if he’s all over the plate. Still, being too patient has hurt them nearly all season, so that means they have to take advantage of his mistakes.