Honestly, walking into Wrigley Field for a Crosstown game feels different than any other Tuesday night in May. You’ve got the smell of old beer, the ivy turning that perfect shade of green, and the absolute certainty that half the people in your row are secretly hoping for the other team’s downfall. The Cubs White Sox 2025 series didn't just feel like another set of games on the calendar; it felt like a referendum on which side of the city actually has a plan.
Chicago is a baseball town divided by more than just the Red Line. It’s about expectations. For the North Siders, 2025 was supposed to be the year Craig Counsell’s vision finally clicked. For the South Siders? Well, they were basically just trying to prove they belonged on the same dirt after a historic 2024 collapse that still stings.
The 2025 Crosstown Classic: By the Numbers
If you missed the games, or maybe just blocked them out because your team got shelled, here is the basic breakdown of how the Cubs White Sox 2025 matchups actually shook out.
The schedule was split into two distinct three-game series. This was a change from the old four-game "two and two" format we’ve seen recently. MLB wanted more "Rivalry Weekend" energy, and they definitely got it.
- Series One (Wrigley Field, May 16–18): The Cubs absolutely steamrolled. They took all three games, including a 13-3 blowout in the opener where Seiya Suzuki looked like he was playing video games.
- Series Two (Guaranteed Rate Field, July 25–27): This was much tighter. The Sox actually showed some life, taking the first game 12-5. But the Cubs clawed back to win the next two, including a 5-4 nail-biter to finish the season series.
- Final Tally: Cubs won the season series 5-1.
- All-Time Lead: As of the end of the 2025 campaign, the Cubs lead the regular-season series 77–75. It's about as close as a rivalry can get.
Why the Cubs Looked Like the "Big Brother" Again
It’s kinda wild how much a year changes things. Going into the Cubs White Sox 2025 season, Jed Hoyer went all-in on a "win now" mentality that felt a bit desperate but ultimately paid off. Trading for Kyle Tucker was the move that changed the gravity of the lineup.
Suddenly, Ian Happ wasn't the only guy the pitchers had to worry about. Tucker brought that MVP-caliber left-handed bat that the Cubs have been missing since... well, since Anthony Rizzo was still wearing pinstripes.
But it wasn't just the big names. The real story was Pete Crow-Armstrong. The kid finally stopped trying to hit everything 500 feet and started using his speed. Seeing him fly around the bases against a struggling White Sox outfield was basically a microcosm of the whole season.
The Pitching Gap
The Cubs' rotation of Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, and Jameson Taillon was just too steady. Imanaga, with that "ghost" fastball of his, absolutely carved up the Sox in May. He went seven innings, gave up two hits, and looked like he wasn't even breaking a sweat.
Meanwhile, the Sox were leaning on Garrett Crochet to be a superhero every fifth day. And look, Crochet is incredible. He’s probably the best trade chip in baseball. But you can't win a series when your bullpen has a collective ERA that looks like a high schooler's GPA.
The White Sox Youth Movement: Is There Hope?
If you’re a Sox fan, Cubs White Sox 2025 was probably a tough pill to swallow. But honestly, if you look past the 5-1 series loss, there are actual building blocks here. Chris Getz didn't just sit on his hands.
Colson Montgomery finally arrived. He was called up in July of '24, but 2025 was his first full-ish year. He hit a two-run homer in the July series against the Cubs that had the South Side jumping. He’s got that "it" factor.
Then you’ve got the catching situation. It’s a bit of a logjam with Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel, but that’s a "good" problem. Teel’s promotion in June was the highlight of the summer. He’s athletic, he’s vocal, and he actually seems to care about the rivalry.
"We knew where we were at as an organization. I'm motivated to improve the club for the fans most importantly." — Chris Getz, White Sox GM.
The Sox are basically in a "reloading" phase, which is a fancy way of saying "we're going to lose a lot now so we can win later." They finished way back in the AL Central, but the farm system is now ranked in the top five.
Key Players Who Defined the Matchup
Success in the Cubs White Sox 2025 games didn't always come from the guys you'd expect. Sure, Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Tucker did their thing, but some under-the-radar names stepped up.
- Michael Busch (Cubs): He’s solidified himself at first base. His defense was surprisingly elite, and he had a knack for hitting doubles right when the Sox felt they were gaining momentum.
- Miguel Vargas (White Sox): He’s sort of become the "steady" hand in a chaotic lineup. He led the Sox in home runs for a good chunk of the year and actually played decent defense at third.
- Porter Hodge (Cubs): The bullpen found a gem here. When the Sox tried to mount a comeback in the July 26th game, Hodge came in and shut the door with a 98-mph heater that looked unhittable.
- Noah Schultz (White Sox): While he didn't pitch in the big league Crosstown games yet, the "Lefty Randy Johnson" is looming in the minors. His progress was the talk of the stands at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The Fan Experience: Wrigley vs. The Rate
Let’s be real: half the fun of Cubs White Sox 2025 is the atmosphere.
Wrigley is Wrigley. It’s a museum that sells overpriced hot dogs. But when the Sox come to town, the energy is hostile in a fun way. You see families split down the middle—dad in a Frank Thomas jersey, daughter in a Kris Bryant one (yeah, people still wear those).
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The "Rate" (Guaranteed Rate Field) is a different beast. It’s easier to get a beer, the food is arguably better (hello, Cuban sandwich), and the fans are just grittier. There’s a chips-on-the-shoulder vibe that makes the July series feel like a playoff game, even if the Sox are 20 games out of first.
Ticket Prices and Access
Tickets for the May series at Wrigley started around $60 for "nosebleeds" (which aren't really a thing at Wrigley since everything is close). By the time the July series rolled around, you could snag a seat on the South Side for about $40. It’s the best value in Chicago sports, honestly.
Looking Toward 2026: What’s Next?
So, where do we go from here? The Cubs White Sox 2025 story isn't quite over because it sets the stage for a very interesting winter.
The Cubs are at a crossroads. They proved they could handle the Sox, but did they prove they could handle the Dodgers or the Braves? Probably not. They need more starting pitching depth.
The White Sox have a massive decision to make regarding Luis Robert Jr. He’s got the talent, but does he fit the timeline? If they trade him, they’ll get a haul of prospects that could accelerate the rebuild. If they keep him, they’re betting on him being the veteran leader for guys like Montgomery and Teel.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're following these teams into the next season, here’s how you should be looking at things:
- Watch the Draft Lottery: The Sox are in prime position for a top-three pick in 2026. This is where the next era starts.
- Monitor the Cubs' Bullpen: They relied heavily on young arms in 2025. See if Hoyer brings in a veteran closer to take the pressure off Hodge.
- Plan Your 2026 Trip: The next series starts May 15, 2026, at Guaranteed Rate Field. Get your tickets early; the "Rivalry Weekend" format is here to stay, and it sells out fast.
- Check the Farm: Keep an eye on Matt Shaw for the Cubs. He’s likely to be the everyday third baseman by next spring, and he’s got "Crosstown Hero" written all over him.
The Cubs White Sox 2025 rivalry proved that even when the teams are heading in different directions, Chicago belongs to baseball. The North Side might have the wins for now, but the South Side has the "what if" factor that keeps things spicy. Whether you're a "Fly the W" person or a "Good Guys Wear Black" fan, the city is better when both teams are fighting for every inch of that 16-inch softball turf we call home.
Make sure you keep an eye on the winter meetings in December. That’s when the next chapter of this rivalry actually gets written. For now, the Cubs hold the trophy, but in Chicago, that can change with one swing of the bat or one blockbuster trade.