Tonight at 8:10 p.m., the Chicago Cubs (38-48), a team that was predicted to struggle through a tough season will face their crosstown rivals the Chicago White Sox (34-51), a group with much higher hopes for 2013 in a game that can be live streamed here. The Cubs broadcast can be heard on WGN 720, while the White Sox' fans can tune in to WSCR 670.
Matt Garza (4-1, 3.45 ERA) will take the hill for the Cubbies, against a White Sox lineup that has been punchless for most of the year. Chicago is dead last in the American League in runs per game (3.67), runs scored (312), RBI (303) second to last in home runs (80) and fourth from the bottom in batting average (.245).
Two of their top power sources, Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko, have severely underperformed this year. Although Dunn has socked 23 home runs it has come at a cost; he's batting a dreadful .202 this season and despite the homers has only registered a .772 OPS.
Konerko, normally a model of consistency, has also struggled badly, batting .249 with a measly seven home runs and 30 RBI. Their top bat has been Alex Rios, who is hitting a respectable .266 with 11 home runs, 38 RBI, and 16 stolen bases.
For the Cubs, being 10 games under .500 is actually not so terrible. They could be even better if their premier shortstop, Starlin Castro, wasn't suffering through a miserable campaign.
Castro has regressed in every way this year, with an average sinking to 233, with only four home runs and 26 RBI. He has also stolen just seven bases, while he's been caught stealing twice.
Tasked with getting Castro and Co. out will be Hector Santiago, who is just 3-5 despite having an above-average 3.50 ERA.
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