Cubs try to shake off a first-inning slump as Crosstown Series resumes at Wrigley Field

The Cubs and Chicago White Sox renew their Crosstown Series at Wrigley Field on Monday, Aug. 17, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. After earlier meetings that set up this second-half return trip, the key storyline heading into this one is not the calendar or the venue, but the Cubs’ difficulty generating offense in the opening inning.

According to the game preview published by Yahoo Sports, the Cubs have not scored a run in the first inning of their last six games. Even more pointed, they have been hitless in 22 consecutive first-inning plate appearances, going out in order in five of those frames and reaching base via walks in the other two. The preview notes that the hitless run began after a first inning that ended with a sacrifice fly and a forceout, meaning the streak is tied to a very specific sequence that has followed them game to game.

That kind of early-inning skid can affect more than just the box score. In MLB, the first inning often sets the emotional tone, influences bullpen usage, and determines how an opposing starter’s workload is managed. If the Cubs continue to miss opportunities early, they can force themselves to chase later innings, potentially turning routine innings into higher-leverage at-bats as the game progresses.

The Crosstown Series adds its own pressure and volatility. Both teams draw from the same local talent pipeline and share a fan base that follows every headline. When the matchup returns to Wrigley Field, the spotlight tends to intensify around the home team’s ability to establish control early, whether that control comes through scoring first or at least by putting pressure on the opponent’s starter through traffic on the basepaths.

While the Yahoo preview’s most specific evidence centers on the Cubs’ first-inning production, the broader takeaway is what the Cubs must address at the start of each game. The trend is clear: limited contact and low conversion early, even when innings remain close. If walks are appearing but hits are not, the Cubs are reaching without doing damage, and hitters are being asked to do more work to turn early baserunners into runs.

As with any single-pattern slump, it is also important to separate a short stretch from a season-long identity. A six-game window and 22 plate appearances is enough to create a meaningful talking point, but it is still a slice of a long schedule. For the Cubs, the watch item is whether the first-inning hitless run ends quickly, whether the approach changes in the first turn through the lineup, or whether the trend carries forward into the start of the game once again.

Monday’s game will therefore function as more than another regular-season matchup. It is a test of whether the Cubs can neutralize a consistent early handicap and convert at-bats into runs before the White Sox settle into their pitching rhythm. For fans, the easiest way to track the Cubs’ progress is to watch the first inning closely: whether they can move from walks and empty outs to hits, and whether that shift translates into a lead or at least a steadier offensive tempo. The rest of the series will likely look different depending on how the opener goes.

If the first-inning issues persist, it will raise questions about urgency across the lineup and whether later-inning production can compensate for the repeated early stumbles. If it improves, the Cubs can build confidence that the recent trend was more correctable than permanent. Either way, the early frames will matter most, because the preview’s numbers suggest the Cubs have been fighting from behind before they’ve truly gotten to the meat of the lineup.