Chicago Cubs Baseball News | Shōta Takes on the Losing Sox

On the heels of six straight series losses, the Chicago Cubs host MLB's worst Chicago White Sox for two games at Wrigley Field this week and look to get back on track. The White Sox have lost 11 games in a row.
Anthony Pasquale and Mick Gillespie discuss how important this series is for the Cubs to get right against the league's worst, and also talked about some of the best Cubs/Sox moments in the rivalry's history, including Christopher Morel's walk-off homerun last season.
The pair also talked about what's been going wrong for Chicago, and if the Cubs can finally put all three facets of a ballgame together against the White Sox. They emphasized how important this stretch of baseball is for the Cubs, as they do not play a team above .500 until the end of June.
Shota Imanaga is back on the mound for the Cubs tonight as he looks to get himself and the Cubs back in the W column.
Shota Imanaga (5-1, 1.86 ERA) vs Chris Flexen (2-5, 5.50 ERA)
Cubs vs Sox 7:05 CT
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Mick Gillispie has covered the Chicago Cubs since 2007 and has been a fan of the team since the 1984 season. He has broadcasted spring training games or been heard on Cubs.com, MLB.com, 670 The Score, WGN, CSN-Chicago and Marquee Sports Network. He is an award winning play-by-play voice for the Tennessee Smokies Cubs Double-A Affiliate. He has also hosted many forums over the years at Cubs Convention including Down on The Farm.

[@ThatColeGuy]

One thing's for sure. Chicago will win this game.

[@danielaguirre133]

We need to trade for a super star 3rd baseman

[@gildedguile9584]

We are STACKED when it comes to 7 hitters

[@rexeffect7122]

Shota takes on the losing Sox, the Cubs hasn’t been winning regularly either. Unfortunately. If the Sox beat the Cubs today, we are in really bad trouble.😂

[@kimhill1254]

What if the Cubs lose both ?

[@gianni18121987]

Then they should be sellers at the deadline

[@joecasey1329]

The Cubs need to win the 1st game and then worry about the next. They can’t afford to botch this.

[@briandaugherty4678]

Stop talking about last year oh they did. This group has failed! They failed last year, and they'll fail this year!!! WE NEED TO GO TO REBUILD NOW!!!! NOT LATER!!! NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Serpico1954]

The Cubs are a “little bit ugly?????” This team has been horrendous. Have had to turn the feed OFF for the last three games. As a long time Cub fan my scar tissue has scar tissue. The season may be over if they don’t play up to expectations. Go Cubs…if that’s possible in 2024.

[@marcelocruz9047]

Until they can get a lead early of 3 runs or more I don't see them getting out of the funk

[@DerexYoung-bx3zw]

Unfun to watch

[@DionysusAlS]

Aaaaaand they're getting blown out by the laughing stock White Sox. This has to be some sort of point of no return. Please back up the proverbial truck.

[@yosemitesam876]

It seems everybody wants to beat us so bad.🤣

[@yosemitesam876]

I think we will win this one, Hey! Hey! 🧸🐻

[@randallherr4273]

But remember all opposing pitching suddenly look like CY YOUNG and hitting nonexistent

[@Roger.R.M.A.]

Yeah, you're totally right, the White Sox are gonna win sooner or later... Let's hope is not against the Cubs... Go Cubs!!!

[@peteray3967]

Not barking, calling him out for dirty play.

[@Beatlesbec]

might not play tonight...storms coming to CHicago

[@jturn314]

We’re…………we’re gonna get swept by the Sox aren’t we……..😔

[@-slurmdaddy-8147]

Shit storms a brewing. Worst 2 teams in each league respectively. Should make for shitty/good time lol

[@tracykharp]

Cubs need players with that fight in them

[@robwade3421]

I'm worried we're about to make the worst team in baseball look like world series champs... I had to sell my tickets to both of these games...

[@paulferg22]

Why is Patrick wisdom here if he doesn’t get a hit or an extra bass hit or Homerun? I’m even more confused.

[@paulferg22]

I’m confused as to exactly what they’re doing with this roster David Bodie not a world beater Patrick wisdom strikeouts softball player, Kyle Hendrix, living on his World Series appearance what is going on?

[@ranlitt3201]

Oh boy, I've said since Spring training you can't make a 3rd baseman. The Cubs are down 5-0 and it looks like 4 runs were unearned. Against the Sox. 🙃

[@davidsnyderWisdomTrollBlocker]

Two BIG reasons the Cubs are not as good as they should be..Bote.no.1..SHOULD have been here from the start 5 homers in spring training..I have been preaching this all year.Good to see finally the CUBS admitting their mistake!..NO.2 Carl Edwards JR.not here from the start..He has a 2.14 ERA with 6 saves at Iowa..Imagine how many saves he would have now with the Cubs. Instead we got Little and Brewer..COME ON!

[@chicubs5574]

I would disagree with being more passive at the plate. Being passive at the plate is what gets them behind in the count, then they swing at the 0-2 junk pitch.

[@Rondomino47]

I'm with you Mick. Call up Owen Cassie. I'm no expert. I'm just a Cub's fan. And it seems to me if players are consistently not producing, and the Cubs keep losing, then bringing in players who will produce might turn things around. As Willie Hsrris said, "this is baseball, you've got to score runs to win". It also seems to me that the Cubs have players who CAN hit, but DON'T hit, while the Reds, Cards, Brewers, and other opponents have players who CAN hit and DO hit. What gives? Seems like wringing hands and hoping for better results hasn't worked. DO SOMETHING! Do so9mething before it's too late. '

[@JohnVaglica]

I said the cubs were done. If they lose to the white Sox I don’t want to hear anyone say oh it’s still early. The cubs are done it’s over.

[@nenecastillo7497]

If they struggle to win in either games, then they’re officially done. Even the Tigers are doing better than the Cubs so far this year.

[@czrad8125]

As o commented before No speed,no hit and run Counsell has such a look on his face like a passenger on the titanic

[@JohnVaglica]

The cubs need to rethink the lineup.

[@Beatlesbec]

they need to trade Wisdom

[@BarryJowers]

2007 with the Cubs. Everyone expected the Cubs to be the best team in the central and they got off to that bad start. Then I think it was around this time of the year against the Braves. Angel Pagan was thrown out at third and Lou Pinella lost it he was ejected. It fired the team up and from that day on the Cubs started winning and went on to take the Central

[@Beatlesbec]

Cubs W

[@ranlitt3201]

Thanks for mentioning Morel. He's an 8 hitter hitting clean-up. I would try and get Justin Turner from Toronto for DH in a trade.

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

Cubs have been in on Turner for years it feels like.

[@youarethecreator1]

If Bote hits a grand slam I’m growing a stash. Seriously. I’ll upload a pic to Dropbox and post the link here.

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

Would love you to join Ant with the Stash

[@danielaguirre133]

The Cubs are like a box of chocolate. You don't know what your going to get !

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

If we had Forrest do you think we'd steal more bases?

[@rickdde]

I must admit, i have the mlb subscription and during the offseason i must have watched that sox/cubs game about 30 times just to see morel walk it off, truly amazing

[@davidsnyderWisdomTrollBlocker]

Yeah one home run..Does not make up for hitting under 200!..LMAO..That's what he was hitting during that period and that's what he's hitting now..

[@michaelpena1756]

Go CUBS!!!

[@jturn314]

I’m with you Mick, BOTH of the “save the pitchers, protect their arms” moves blew up in their faces pretty spectacularly in the last two weeks. Let’s hope Shota and Ben can get back on track in their next starts. Going to be really upsetting if they have an extended slump after those very controversial decisions threw them off their game

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

And it continued today.

[@Beatlesbec]

CUBS SUCK!!!!!! something is wrong with Shota

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

10 days rest was puzzling

[@paulferg22]

This is a game of adjustments, he need to adjust .

[@paulferg22]

Why is Patrick wisdom here if he doesn’t get a hit or an extra bass hit or Homerun? I’m even more confused.

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

There's your answer. You should comment more often lol

[@paulferg22]

Thank God, he’s on the roster, we still need a right handed first baseman who can play the field

[@jturn314]

If they want to be buyers, first and foremost you have to find an impact player to start at catcher.

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

Unfortunately the corner infield is still an issue.

[@jturn314]

@@cubsbaseballchannel Eh I think Catcher is a MUCH larger hole than the corners. I still have confidence in Morel, his defense is much better now than it was at first, and his bat will surely come back. At first, a Busch/Belli rotation is perfectly acceptable, just need to sort of “demote” Busch back to the platoon/matchup guy that he was in the very beginning to keep him in positive situations. But there is literally zero options with any sort of upside at catcher.. No one is in a slump, they’ve just both been completely absent for going on three months now…

[@everetttauscher8377]

Thanks for the show guys! LET'S GO CUBS!!! ⚾️✌️💙🐻

[@ricklasse]

Someone asked today if Cody Bellinger would opt-out of his contract after the season is over. Unless he has an MVP caliber rest of the season, I don’t see an opt-out happening. Plus, after when he went through over this last offseason, he’ll be back in a Cubs uniform next season…unless there’s a chance to trade him, but, I have no idea if he has any kind of no-trade clause in his contract. Yes, the Cubs have been horrendous, but, if you make a list of the players who’ve been on the injured list so far this year and take a look at how rough their schedule had been since mid-April, it might give a clue or two as to why they’ve struggled. The Cubs had only three days off since mid-April. And, even though they had a rain-out in St. Louis, they still had to make it up as a doubleheader the following Sunday. June, July and August have more days off so that’ll give the bullpen and the everyday players more of a chance to get some rest. Over the next few weeks, we’ll start to see some guys come back and that should make the Cubs better….hopefully, anyway! Until the Cubs are mathematically eliminated, I don’t give up on a season…look at what they did last season.

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

Cody is an interesting case

[@briandaugherty4678]

He should opt out because he sucks! One good year but most of his career he's below average! Move on Belli please!

[@ricklasse]

@@briandaugherty4678 If he sucks, he’s not going to opt out…why would he?

[@ricklasse]

But, honestly, right now the whole team sucks.

[@ricklasse]

@@briandaugherty4678 He hit .307 with 26 home runs and 97 RBI last season, plus he’s a solid outfielder and first baseman. And, he’s starting to heat up now after recovering from rib issues. I’d rather see other players go first before I’d want to see Bellinger go.