Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs

Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs (2026-08-17). Luis Castillo vs Shota Imanaga at Wrigley Field.

Luis Castillo features a swing-and-miss profile highlighted by an 8.21 K/9, pairing that strikeout ability with a 2.85 BB/9 and a 1.38 HR9 across 110.2 innings. He holds a 4-9 record alongside a 4.96 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Across his last three outings, he delivered lines of 7 IP/0 ER/10 K/2 BB, 4 IP/5 ER/5 K/1 BB, and 5 IP/5 ER/2 K/2 BB, carrying a downward trend into this matchup. Shota Imanaga establishes elite control by issuing just 1.90 BB/9 to complement his 8.52 K/9 over 137.1 innings of work. The left-hander sits at 8-9 with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP while trending upward. Over his previous three appearances, he recorded 4.2 IP/4 ER/5 K/0 BB, 5 IP/1 ER/6 K/0 BB, and 6.2 IP/2 ER/6 K/0 BB, though he has yielded a 1.83 HR9 and 28 total home runs on the season.

The White Sox offense arrives with a .730 OPS, a .240 batting average, and 594 runs scored, matching a 6-4 mark over their past 10 games. Their pitching staff supports the club with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Meanwhile, the Cubs counter with a .754 team OPS, 645 runs scored, and a .248 batting average while also posting a 6-4 record across their last 10 contests. On the mound, the Cubs have registered a collective 4.16 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.