Chicago White Sox tagged Shota Imanaga early and often to win Game 1 of the Crosstown Classic over the Cubs 12-5. It's the Sox sixth win in seven games

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These are not your first-half White Sox. Not even close. No real resemblance whatsoever. At least, not for the seven games since the All-Star break.

Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Austin Slater and Mike Tauchman homered for the White Sox, who clobbered the Cubs 12-5 in the City Series on Friday.

White Sox pitcher Adrian Houser might or might not be on the Cubs’ radar. But the idea of Houser facing a Cubs team that possibly could acquire him at the trade deadline added a little spice to Friday’s opener of the City Series at Rate Field.

Starting pitcher Jameson Taillon threw 47 pitches during a bullpen session Friday at Wrigley Field, per the Cubs. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 4 with a right calf strain. Prior to his injury, Taillon had a 4.44 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP across 95.1 innings, including 10 quality starts.

Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 3.27 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 37 strikeouts); Red Sox: Garrett Crochet (11-4, 2.19 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 165 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Red Sox -147, Dodgers +123; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to keep a three-game road win streak alive when they visit the Boston Red Sox.