Since the start of interleague play, the White Sox have played the Cubs 122 times. The South Siders enjoy a 62-60 all-time series edge after Sunday's 3-1 victory at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The series is historically equal. The team with the worse record often holds its own, so it isn't a surprise that the Sox (42-44) earned a 2-2 season series split with the Cubs (47-43), whose mediocre record probably should be described as underachieving.
What is somewhat surprising is how the Sox got those two victories. The South Siders' best pitcher, Lucas Giolito, is 11-3 this season. However, two of his losses have come to the Cubs. He was knocked out in the fifth inning Saturday night in a 6-3 victory by the North Siders.
Giolito's final line Saturday: 4+ innings, six runs, all earned, four hits, five strikeouts and five walks, including three consecutive to start the fateful fifth inning in which the Cubs scored five of their six runs.
Giolito vs. the Cubs: 0-2 with a 12.96 ERA
Giolito vs. everyone else: 11-1 with a 2.26 ERA
Sometimes, a particular club has your number. Go figure.
Speaking of which, Sox right-hander Ivan Nova has the Cubs' number. Nova (4-7) has been a disappointment this season, but he didn't allow a run Sunday to pick up the victory. He went 5.2 innings, allowing five hits while striking out four and walking only one.
Nova left the mound with a 3-0 lead in the sixth inning. The Sox's bullpen needed to record 10 outs before the Cubs scored three runs. Jace Fry, Aaron Bummer and Alex Colome combined to do just that.
This marked the second good performance for Nova against the Cubs this season. He did not earn the win June 18, but he was the starting pitcher in the other South Side victory in the crosstown series this year.
Nova vs. the Cubs: 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA
Nova vs. everyone else: 3-7 with a 6.15 ERA.
Go figure.
If I were devious, I would suggest the Sox trade Nova to a NL Central contender just so he would have the opportunity to torment the Cubs more often.
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