Chicago baseball report: The White Sox get walked off twice — but the Cubs surge through a tough April schedule

The Chicago Cubs challenging April is off to a good start.A 4-2 homestand against the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers has the Cubs sitting well as they enter the next phase of the gauntlet, a six-game trip to face the Los Angeles Dodgers and Padres.After a rough trip that has featured consecutive walk-off losses to the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians, the White Sox return to Rate Field on Friday to begin a six-game homestand three each against the Boston Red Sox and Sacramento Athletics.Every Thursday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened and whats ahead for the Cubs and White Sox.Want more? Sign up for our Cubs Insider and White Sox Insider.Cubs confident in Pete Crow-Armstrongs approachChicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong bunts during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field on Sunday, April 6, 2025.

(Eileen T.

Meslar/Chicago Tribune)The hits havent been falling for Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.An 0-for-3 day in the Cubs 6-2 loss to the Rangers on Wednesday dropped his average to .211 with a .549 OPS.

The Cubs arent worrying yet about Crow-Armstrongs offensive production, in part because of an improved walk rate, up 3.1% from last year.

And when he has gotten on base, he remains a constant threat to steal, entering the road trip 6-for-6 in attempts this season.I think hes just in a really good spot lower-half wise, like, the consistency of the swing, no matter what the pitch location or pitch velocity is, is very similar, hitting coach Dustin Kelly told the Tribune.

We havent seen a lot of the kind of off-balance flailing, or super late playing defense.Crow-Armstrongs second-half development in 2024 set him up to be a regular in the lineup this year.

And with that comes some security, knowing that rough stretches wont mean a quick benching.

While Crow-Armstrong looks for the hits to start going his way, hes seeing an increase in bat speed from last year, another encouraging sign, going from 70.6 to 72.4 mph.Hes getting his A swing off a lot and a lot of that has to do with how comfortable he is in the box and really confident, Kelly said.

So, when guys are feeling that way, and he had a great offseason, those numbers will jump up a little bit, and I think theyll fluctuate throughout the year.Mike Tauchman returns from the IL, looking to give the Sox an edgeMike Tauchman of the Chicago White Sox reacts after striking out to end the top of the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 8, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.

(Jason Miller/Getty Images)Mike Tauchman is focused on just trying to play his game regardless of where he is slotted in the Sox batting order.Nobody has success when theyre out there trying to do too much, Tauchman said Sunday in Detroit.

So Im going to try to take quality at-bats and play good defense and run the bases well.

Just try to do the things that I do and not try to do too much.After beginning the regular season on the injured list, Tauchman went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run while hitting at the top of the lineup in his Sox debut Sunday against the Tigers at Comerica Park.Tauchman had been out with a right hamstring strain suffered in spring training.First couple weeks of spring are super internal with everything trying to feel how things feel, getting ready for opening day rather than completely focused on results in spring, Tauchman said.

I felt like that was kind of transitioning that last week (of camp), I was feeling pretty good at the plate, so its unfortunate (the injury) happened when it did, but Im ready to go.He showed no lingering effects from the injury Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, making a sensational running catch in right field to rob Bo Naylor of an extra-base hit in the fifth inning of a 1-0 loss.But Tauchman came up limping while heading home attempting to score the game-tying run in the ninth inning on Wednesday.Venable described it as something in his lower half, and the Sox later said it was right hamstring tightness.Tauchman, 34, and the Sox agreed to terms on a one-year deal in December.

The eight-year major-league veteran spent the last two seasons with the Cubs.Love his consistency, his approach, his professionalism, Sox manager Will Venable said.

He gives us an edge.

Brings great energy to the clubhouse, to the dugout.Number of the week: 75Entering Wednesday, the Sox had stuck out the second-fewest times in the majors this season (75), just behind the Tampa Bay Rays (74).Week ahead: CubsThursday: offFriday: at Dodgers, 9:10 p.m., MarqueeSaturday: at Dodgers, 8:10 p.m., MarqueeSunday: at Dodgers, 6:10 p.m., ESPNMonday: at Padres, 8:40 p.m., MarqueeTuesday: at Padres, 8:40 p.m., MarqueeWednesday: at Padres, 3:10 p.m., MarqueeChicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell walks through the dugout before the game against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field on Sunday, April 6, 2025.

(Eileen T.

Meslar/Chicago Tribune)The Cubs home dugout was redone in the offseason and the new look features less bench seating.Instead of a row of benches spanning from one entrance into the dugout to the other end, half of them were removed.

The area was leveled to create more space for players, coaches and personnel to stand.

Manager Craig Counsell noted wryly that it wont help them win any games, but he likes the new alignment.Just create a little more communal feel in the dugout, Counsell explained.

The dugout tends to be like two rooms almost.

Its the top step and the bottom step.

And you cant even discuss or talk to people on the bottom step and then the bottom edge of the dugout.Week ahead: White SoxThursday: at Guardians, 12:10 p.m., CHSNFriday: vs.

Red Sox, 6:40 p.m., CHSN+Saturday: vs.

Red Sox, 3:10 p.m., CHSNSunday: vs.

Red Sox, 1:10 p.m., CHSN+Monday: offTuesday: vs.

Athletics, 6:40 p.m., CHSN+Wednesday: vs.

Athletics, 6:40 p.m., CHSNBoston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet in action against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Baltimore.

(AP Photo/Nick Wass)The White Sox and Red Sox were involved in one of the headline trades of the offseason, with starter Garrett Crochet going to Boston for four prospects in catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, outfielder Braden Montgomery and pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez.Crochet is 1-1 with a 1.45 ERA and 17 strikeouts in three starts with the Red Sox.Bostons probable pitchers for the weekend series against the White Sox were unknown as of Wednesday afternoon, but Crochet most recently pitched Tuesday allowing one earned run in 5 2/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays.Teel was named the International League Player of the Week on March 31 after going 6-for-12 with two home runs and nine RBIs for Triple-A Charlotte in the first three games of the season.Meidroth had a .296/.472/.667 slash line with three home runs, four RBIs and seven walks in eight games with the Knights.Montgomery had seven RBIs in his first three games with Class A Kannapolis.What were reading this morningAndrew Benintendi lands on 10-day IL with a left adductor strain, leaving a void in Chicago White Sox lineupColumn: Kyle Tuckers hot start has fueled North Side optimism while helping the Chicago Cubs hide their wartsShane Smith settling in with Chicago White Sox after pandemonium of big-league debutChicago Cubs Kyle Tucker the National League Player of the Week is not concerned with pending free agencyColumn: After Wrigley Fields goose flew the coop, the search is on for a new Chicago Cubs rally animalColumn: April is here, and Cubs and White Sox fans are already in midseason formQuotableYouve got to acknowledge it, I think is the biggest thing, I really do.

I think you have to acknowledge, like, its going to suck out there.

It just is, right? But thats part of it, and not fight it.

manager Craig Counsell on the Cubs playing in freezing temperatures this past week..

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