(670 The Score) Only once in the past 114 years have the Cubs and White Sox made the playoffs in the same season.
That was in 2008, when the NL Central-winning Cubs were swept by the Dodgers in the National League Division Series and the AL Central-winning White Sox lost to the Rays in four games in the American League Division Series.
Now as they prepare to start a three-game series at Wrigley Field on Friday, the Cubs and White Sox again match up with the real vision of being playoff contenders.
The Cubs lead the NL Central at 16-8, while the White Sox have won five straight and are 15-11, which is good for a wild-card spot in the American League in the expanded playoff format.
"This will be fun playing against them," said White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez, whom the Cubs traded across town in 2017. "They have been to the playoffs a lot. We both have good records, so we will see.
"After they traded me, I said, 'I will try to do well against them every time.' We want to play well in all of our series."
The Cubs have their best pitchers lined up to face the White Sox, with left-hander Jon Lester going Friday, right-hander Kyle Hendricks set for Saturday and right-hander Yu Darvish ready to get the ball Sunday. The White Sox will counter with left-hander Dallas Keuchel on Friday. Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez hasn't been confirmed yet but is likely to start Saturday after recovering from a shoulder injury. Right-hander Dylan Cease, whom the White Sox acquired from the Cubs in a 2017 trade, will start Sunday.
"There is a certain level of pride playing that team from the North Side," White Sox ace Lucas Giolito said after leading his team to a win Thursday. "I am looking forward to the series. It's going to be a lot of fun. It does suck not having the fans. The Chicago fans really get up for these games, but it is what it is."
The Cubs and White Sox have met in the World Series just once – in 1906, when the White Sox were victorious in six games. It's admittedly early to discuss that possibility, but fans are free to dream.
"Certainly, that would be great for the city and the fans of the teams," Ross said of an all-Chicago matchup in the World Series. "These are two really good organizations with good players. You always want to one-up the other team in town, but we have a long way to go before we see who is in the World Series."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
