The Chicago White Sox knocked off the Chicago Cubs in the final game of a three-game set at Wrigley Field Wednesday.
The battle between the two teams was only the second since 2008 to be contested at Wrigley Field while both teams had winning records, and the two teams played up to the hype as they engaged in a tough back-and-forth affair.
Both teams are still in prime position to reach the postseason, but here’s how things stand after the three-game series at the Friendly Confines.
American League Central Standings:
Chicago White Sox 66-60
Minnesota Twins 63-65 (4 GB)
Cleveland Guardians 61-65 (5 GB)
Detroit Tigers 61-66 (5.5 GB)
Where the White Sox Stand:
After their win in the final game of the three-game series against the Cubs, the White Sox have extended their lead back to four games in the American League Central race.
Also worthy of note is the White Sox still have a three-game lead over the Houston Astros in the American League standings, which would give them a bye through the wild card round should they hold onto that advantage.
What’s Ahead for the White Sox:
The White Sox will head back across town for the start of a seven-game homestand on Thursday afternoon as they take on the Atlanta Braves in a make-up game at Rate Field.
They will then welcome the New York Mets to the South Side for a three-game series starting Friday, and will face the Texas Rangers beginning on Monday.
One stretch to watch for the White Sox will occur at the end of the month, as they’ll play six games in 10 days against the Twins. In the middle of that stretch, they’ll face a four-game series in Houston against the Astros, which could have a big impact on the race for a first-round bye in the postseason.
National League Central Standings:
Milwaukee Brewers 78-48
Chicago Cubs 74-54 (5 GB)
National League Wild Card Standings:
Chicago Cubs 74-54
Philadelphia Phillies 69-58
San Diego Padres 68-60
Arizona Diamondbacks 66-61 (1.5 GB)
St. Louis Cardinals 65-62 (2.5 GB)
Miami Marlins 64-63 (3.5 GB)
As for the Cubs, they did win two-of-three games against the White Sox, but they dropped the series finale on Wednesday, giving the Brewers a chance to gain even more ground as they continue a series against the Seattle Mariners.
The Cubs do have a substantial lead in the National League wild card race, with a magic number of 28 to clinch a playoff spot as they are currently 7.5 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
What’s Ahead for the Cubs:
Speaking of the Diamondbacks, the Cubs will see them on their upcoming road trip, playing three games in Phoenix beginning on Monday night.
Before they start that series, the Cubs will have a day off Thursday before taking on the Mariners in the Pacific Northwest in a three-game series.
At month’s end, the Cubs will hit a critical part of their schedule as they face the Brewers seven times in 10 days, beginning with a four-game series at Wrigley Field starting on August 31.
