Cubs takeaways: What we learned as Cubs secure series over White Sox
CHICAGO — The Cubs inched closer to making a statement in the record books Saturday with a 7-3 win over the White Sox that tied the crosstown rivals’ all-time regular-season series at 74 apiece.
Matthew Boyd delivered another strong start behind big days at the plate by Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Here are three things we learned as the Cubs (27-19) again bested the White Sox (14-32) at Wrigley Field.
Ol’ Reliable
Boyd has been the guy the Cubs can count on this season.
The veteran southpaw secured another win Saturday, going six innings while giving up just three earned runs on four hits. His eight strikeouts matched his season high, and the outing was his sixth quality start of his nine this year.
Boyd has made three consecutive quality starts, and he hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in any outing. He has put in consistent performances when the Cubs have needed the rotation to step up with Justin Steele out for the season after elbow surgery and Shota Imanaga on the IL with a hamstring strain.
Boyd’s ERA stands at 2.98, a top-10 mark among NL pitchers. He also has 53 strikeouts across 51.1 innings of work.
It takes two
No inning has been more productive for Cubs hitters this season than the second. They’ve scored 44 runs in that frame, just marginally more than they have in fifth innings (43).
Ten of the Cubs’ 20 runs thus far in the Crosstown Classic have come in the second inning. In both games, the breakthrough allowed the Cubs’ starter to regroup after going down early.
In Friday’s game, Cade Horton gave up a two-run homer in the first. The Cubs’ offense used the second inning to put Horton back into the game, scoring six runs and never looking back in a 13-3 win.
A very similar thing happened Saturday. Boyd allowed an uncharacteristic leadoff home run to Chase Meidroth in the first. The Cubs went down quietly in the bottom half of the inning, but they responded in their next chance with a four-run frame to take the lead.
Dansby dingers
Swanson hit a 433-foot solo shot in the fifth inning for his 10th home run of the season, and he now leads all MLB shortstops in that category, overtaking New York Mets star Francisco Lindor.
Swanson became the fourth Cub to hit 10 or more this season, while no other team has more than two with that tally.
Swanson’s 140 homers since the 2018 season are fourth most among MLB shortstops, behind Lindor (191), Willy Adames (155) and Corey Seager (146).
It’s been said over and over again, but Swanson’s turnaround on offense this season after a rough April has been instrumental in the Cubs’ consistency. He’s slashing .354/.418/.646 with a 1.064 OPS in May — a vast improvement from his .188/.233/.333 (.566 OPS) line in April. Swanson also has taken a more patient approach at the plate, drawing six walks so far this month, equaling his April total.
The Cubs will look to sweep a three-game series for the first time since April 2 in Sunday’s finale. Colin Rea (3-0, 2.48 ERA) will start for the North Siders, while the White Sox send Jonathan Cannon (2-4, 3.60 ERA) to the mound.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. CT, with the game airing on Marquee Sports Network and streaming live on the Marquee Sports Network app.
