This round of the City Series arrives as the July 31 trade deadline nears. The Cubs are in a position to buy while the White Sox will be looking to sell.

MLB insiders expect the Chicago Cubs will target former aces Zac Gallen and Sandy Alcantara at the trade deadline.

CHICAGO –– With the MLB trade deadline approaching on Thursday, the White Sox made a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. Minor league infielder Tristan Gray is headed to Tampa in exchange for cash considerations, the White Sox announced.

The Chicago Cubs will officially receive their designation to host the 2027 All-Star Game at Wrigley Field soon.

Shota Imanaga against the White Sox tonight: 3.0 IP | 12 H | 7 ER | 2 K pic.twitter.com/ew6ewAJssm

The Chicago Cubs haven't been to the playoffs in a full season since 2018 and that was just one game, as they lost the Wild Card back when it was a one-and-done. They're coming off back-to-back 83-win seasons.

Schwarber now has four home runs in his last three games, also going deep in back-to-back contests before Friday’s contest. He’s red-hot, smacking 11 bombs in July alone. The Phils will face Marcus Stroman today, who has an ERA over five and has allowed five homers in just seven starts.

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The Chicago White Sox boast a major-league-best 61 runs since the All-Star break and have gone 6-1 over that span. It's certainly a feel-good run for a team that toiled during much of the first half,