Cubs piling up hits in series vs. rival White Sox

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong commonly goes by his initials, PCA, but teammate Nico Hoerner prefers another abbreviation.

"He's been our MVP, and then just the direction that he's taken our team when a lot of us were struggling early in the year," Hoerner said. "He put the team on his back and he's been absolutely incredible with those big moments, and hopefully many more to come."

After delivering four hits and two home runs against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Monday -- including a game-ending, two-run blast in the 10th inning -- Crow-Armstrong will aim to keep the Cubs clicking against their crosstown rivals Tuesday night.

The Cubs' 7-5 victory Monday evened the season series against the American League Central-leading White Sox at two games apiece while strengthening the Cubs' grip on the top National League wild-card spot.

Hoerner added four hits and Alex Bregman had three as the Cubs out-hit the White Sox 14-4. Randal Grichuk hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning for the White Sox and Andrew Benintendi delivered a go-ahead, two-run shot in the eighth.

"I'm a little sad we couldn't accomplish the win today," White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas said, "but tomorrow is going to be a great day for us."

Vargas said it was "amazing" to see Monday's crowd of 40,354 in full throat to watch two contending teams. The Cubs are 20 games over .500 and the 65-win White Sox are in the hunt for the No. 2 seed in the AL after losing 100-plus games over each of the past three seasons.

Veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman is set to get the call for the Cubs in his home debut.

Acquired in an Aug. 2 trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, Gausman (6-11, 4.53 ERA) has made road starts at Kansas City and Washington since joining the North Siders.

He is 1-1 with a 6.17 ERA in two starts covering 11 2/3 innings for Chicago and is awaiting the chance to pitch in a unique atmosphere at Wrigley Field.

"Man, it's been great. This place is so cool," Gausman said. "So different from Toronto in so many different ways. But, you know, this is like the Mecca of baseball. Here and Fenway (Park), there's just something special about coming here. Now getting to wear the home colors, I'm looking forward to my first start here."

Gausman is 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA in seven appearances against the White Sox, including five starts. He is 1-3 with a 9.60 ERA in four previous starts at Wrigley Field, with 21 strikeouts in 15 innings.

Lefty Bryan Hudson will start for the White Sox, but righty Erick Fedde is expected to work in bulk relief for the White Sox as he aims to regroup from a previous poor start against the Cubs.

Fedde (6-8, 4.51) allowed four runs and six hits in three innings versus visiting Chicago on May 17. He walked four and struck out two. Fedde has pitched to a 9.82 ERA in 7 1/3 August innings.

He took the loss Thursday after allowing four runs and five hits in three innings of relief against the visiting Cincinnati Reds.

Fedde has struggled against the Cubs in his career, going 0-3 with an 8.90 ERA in seven starts covering 29 1/3 innings.

--Field Level Media