AP Sports Preview

CHICAGO (Interstat) — The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox conclude their weekend series Sunday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field, with the Cubs seeking to regain momentum after a 7-1 loss Saturday in the split of the first two games.

Chicago (29-16) leads the NL Central by a comfortable margin but managed only one run in Saturday’s defeat following a 10-5 victory in Friday’s opener. The White Sox (22-22) have climbed back to .500 by winning four of their last six series.

Right-hander Colin Rea (4-2, 3.86 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Cubs. He has been a reliable arm in the rotation, though he lasted only 4⅓ innings in his most recent start May 12 at Atlanta. The Cubs also listed Erick Fedde (0-4) as a probable pitcher, but the club is expected to go with Rea.

The White Sox had not announced a starter at press time.

Players to Watch

Cubs catcher Carson Kelly has been productive at the plate. In Friday’s win, he went 3 for 5 with four RBIs. Over his past four games, he is 4 for 12. He has 10 RBIs in his last five contests.

White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas has been a key contributor. He homered and drove in a run in Friday’s loss, going 2 for 4. Over his past six games, Vargas is 7 for 19 with three home runs and five RBIs.

Weather and Betting

Forecast: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Winds are expected to be light, potentially favorable for hitters.

The Cubs are -1.5 favorites. The over/under is 8½ runs. Interstat projects a 6-5 Cubs victory.

Upcoming

Cubs: Host Milwaukee for a three-game series beginning Monday. White Sox: Begin a three-game series at Seattle on Monday.