Cubs Vs. White Sox: When And How To Watch 2017 Crosstown Classic

CHICAGO, IL — When Major League Baseball introduced interleague play in the late 1990s, the approach was seen as a novel way to give the sport a well-publicized, metaphoric shot in the arm — along with the not-so-publicized, literal shot in the hindquarters many players were receiving thanks to steroids — after a crippling work stoppage cancelled the World Series in 1994. Now in its 20th season, American League and National League squads squaring off against one another during the regular season has become so commonplace that even the Crosstown Classic between the Cubs and White Sox has lost some of its competitive luster.

But there's a new spark of interest in the North Side-South Side rivalry, which is renewed this week with a four-game series beginning Monday. For the first time this year and in the team's history, the Cubs will face the White Sox during the regular season as defending World Series champions. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

RELATED: 2006 Crosstown Classic Became Base-Brawl Game For World Series Champs

Patch takes a look at the upcoming series with a breakdown of when and how you can watch the games.

Crosstown Classic 2017: White Sox (39-59) Vs. Cubs (53-47)

GAME 1: White Sox 3, Cubs 1

W: Miguel Gonzalez (5-9, 4.60 ERA)

L: Justin Grimm (1-1, 5.40 ERA)

S: Anthony Swarzak (1, 2.23 ERA)

First Pitch: 1:20 p.m. Monday, July 24

Where: Wrigley Field

TV | Radio | Streaming: CSN Chicago, ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV) | WLS-AM 890, 670 the Score (WSCR-AM) | MLB.tv, Facebook Live feeds for the Cubs and ABC 7 Chicago

Pitching Matchup: Miguel Gonzalez (4-9, 4.89 ERA) at Kyle Hendricks (4-3, 4.09 ERA)

GAME 2: Cubs 7, White Sox 2

W: John Lackey (7-9, 4.97 ERA)

L: Carlos Rodon (1-4, 6.29 ERA)

First Pitch: 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, July 25

Where: Wrigley Field

TV | Radio | Streaming: CSN Chicago, WGN-TV | WLS-AM 890, 670 the Score (WSCR-AM) | MLB.tv

Pitching Matchup: Carlos Rodon (1-3, 5.75 ERA) at John Lackey (6-9, 5.04 ERA)

GAME 3: Cubs 8, White Sox 3

W: Jake Arrieta (10-7, 4.03 ERA)

L: James Shields (2-3, 5.86 ERA)

First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. Wednesday, July 26

Where: Guaranteed Rate Field

TV | Radio | Streaming: ESPN, CSN Chicago, ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV) | WLS-AM 890, 670 the Score (WSCR-AM), Univision Deportes Radio 1200 (WRTO-AM) | MLB.tv, WatchESPN, Facebook Live feeds for the Cubs and ABC 7 Chicago

Pitching Matchup: Jake Arrietta (9-7, 4.11 ERA) at James Shields (2-2, 5.79 ERA)

GAME 4

First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. Thursday, July 27

Where: Guaranteed Rate Field

TV | Radio | Streaming: CSN Chicago, WGN-TV | WLS-AM 890, 670 the Score (WSCR-AM), Univision Deportes Radio 1200 (WRTO-AM) | MLB.tv

Pitching Matchup: Jon Lester (7-6, 3.95 ERA) at Mike Pelfry (3-7, 4.46 ERA)

Since the All-Star Break

While the White Sox always have looked like a team struggling with the early stages of a rebuilding process this season, the Cubs, conversely, have looked like anything but a franchise in the early stages of building a dynasty. But that was during the first half of the 2017 season, and so far, the North Siders of the second half, are a completely different team, going 8-1 since returning from the All-Star break.

In fact, the Cubs are tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for first place atop the NL Central Division standings. It's the first time they've held that spot since June 6 thanks to a victory Sunday over their bitter rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals.

On the other end of the spectrum, the White Sox have dropped all of their games since returning from the All-Star break and have lost nine games in a row since beating the Colorado Rockies, 5-4, on July 8. It's the South Siders' longest losing streak in four years. The last time the White Sox lost nine consecutive games was from Aug. 30 to Sept. 7, 2013.

Quintana Trade Favors North Side …

Interestingly, the Cubs have the White Sox to thank when it comes to the team's current first-place standing. The winning pitcher in the North Siders' win against St. Louis was Jose Quintana, who the Cubs picked up in a rare trade between the crosstown rivals. The South Siders picked up four minor-league prospects in the deal, including the Cubs' top two prospects.

Just how rare are Cubs-White Sox deals? The last trade between the rival clubs was nearly a decade ago in 2006 — the White Sox sent relief pitcher Neal Cotts to the Cubs for reliever David Aardsma and pitching prospect Carlos Vasquez — and nearly another decade before that in 1998. The biggest trade between the two clubs, however, happened in 1992 when the Cubs picked up Sammy Sosa for cantankerous All-Star George Bell.

Quintana, 28, is 2-0 since joining the Cubs, but the White Sox won't have to worry about the former South Sider doing any immediate damage to his former team. The right-hander, who is under contract at around $10 million over the next three seasons, isn't scheduled to start in the series.

… But Rivalry Favors South Side

The Cubs might be on the winning side of things these past two seasons, but that certainly hasn't been the case historically when it comes to the Crosstown Classic. Since regular season interleague play began in 1997, the White Sox have won 57 of the 108 games against the Cubs, and the South Siders hold a 10-4-6 series record.

Over the past two seasons, the teams have split the series, 2-2 in 2016 and 3-3 in 2015. Before that, the South Siders beat their rivals 3-1 in 2014. The last series the Cubs won was in 2013 when they swept the White Sox, 4-0.

UPDATED (2:52 a.m. Thursday, July 27)

MAIN PHOTO: The Cubs' Ben Zobrist slides safely into third past the White Sox's Yolmer Sanchez during the third game of the Crosstown Classic on Wednesday, July 26, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast | Associated Press)

SECOND PHOTO: Chicago Cubs' Ben Zobrist steals second base after the Chicago White Sox's Yoan Moncada is unable to handle a throw from catcher Omar Narvaez during the second game of the Crosstown Classic on Tuesday, July 25, at Wrigley Field. (Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast | Associated Press)

THIRD PHOTO: Chicago White Sox pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (left) will face Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks in the first of the four-game Crosstown Classic series (Gonzalez photo by Charles Rex Arbogast | Associated Press; Hendricks photo by George Bridges | Associated Press)

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