The Cubs have played 18 spring games, with 16 remaining, and have posted an 8-10 record. They played split squads over the weekend, with half the team heading to Las Vegas, and split the games -- losing two on Saturday, winning a pair on Sunday. Marlon Byrd and Starlin Castro are both hitting well -- Byrd with a stratospheric .500 batting average in 30 at-bats -- and Cubs starting pitching from Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells has been solid.
The White Sox also had some split-squad action during the week, and had a much better week than the first full week of camp. A week ago, the Sox were 1-6; they enter this week at 6-9, having won five of the eight games played, including a 6-1 win over a split squad of Dodgers yesterday. Although the White Sox spent quite a bit of money last weeek signing lefthander Matt Thornton to a contract extension, manager Ozzie Guillen says that he hasn't yet decided on a closer between Thornton and fellow lefty Chris Sale, both of whom have had good springs. Meanwhile, backup catcher Tyler Flowers is 7-for-15 (.467) with a home run.
Here are this week's White Sox and Cubs schedules with broadcast information. All games begin at 3:05 p.m. CDT unless otherwise indicated.
White Sox:
Mon 3/14: vs. Padres at Glendale, CSN Chicago (MLB Network, replay at 9:30 p.m.) Tue 3/15: OFF DAY Wed 3/16: vs. Giants at Glendale, CSN Chicago, MLB Network Thu 3/17: vs. Brewers at Maryvale Thu 3/17: vs. Rockies at Talking Stick Fri 3/18: vs. Athletics at Glendale, 6:05 p.m. CDT, MLB.TV Sat 3/19: vs. Athletics at Phoenix Sun 3/20: vs. Dodgers at Glendale, WSCR radio, WGN-TV
Cubs:
Mon 3/14: vs. Mariners at Peoria, MLB.com radio Tue 3/15: vs. Rockies at Mesa, MLB.com radio Wed 3/16: OFF DAY Thu 3/17: vs. Athletics at Phoenix, MLB.com radio Fri 3/18: vs. Reds at Mesa, MLB.com radio Sat 3/19: vs. Padres at Peoria, WGN radio, WGN-TV Sun 3/20: vs. Giants at Mesa, WGN radio, CSN Chicago