Cubs Host Rangers in Possible Preview of World Series

Some are calling it a preview of the Fall Classic while others believe it is just another interleague matchup of two playoff quality teams.

Whatever you wish to call it, the weekend series between the American League West leading Texas Rangers and the National League Central leading Chicago Cubs will be exciting.

As Major League Baseball re-starts after its annual All-Star Game break the Rangers and Cubs begin their second half of the season playing one another at Wrigley field.

Both are their league’s best teams record wise. Texas has activated pitcher Yu Darvish for the series off the disabled list. The two teams have power in their lineups and strong pitching from starters to the bullpen.

Texas has never won a World Series, while Chicago has won one, but not since 1908. This year the two might wind up battling for the title, which would end a long losing streak for at least one of them.

The three game series begins with an afternoon game on Friday that sets the stage for the pair of games to be played over the weekend.

Both Jake Arrieta the Cubs ace and Cole Hamels the Rangers ace will be rested due to returning from the All-Star Game out west in San Diego.

Texas has Hamels scheduled to appear on Sunday, but Arrieta is expected to rest all weekend to prepare for the Cubs next series against the New York Mets.

Kyle Hendricks will pitch for the Cubs. He was traded to Chicago by the Rangers in 2012 and along with Anthony Rizzo and Arrieta, Hendricks is a good example of how the Cubs have been rebuilt by GM Theo Epstein.

Since July of last season, both the Cubs and Rangers have been the winningest teams in baseball. The two have combined for a record of 192-111, which is .635 and projects to 103 wins during a 162-game schedule.

It is common knowledge that teams that win 100 or more games per season are considered powerhouses.

Both teams enter this series having struggled on their run up to the All Star Game. Texas was 51-27 on June 28 with a lead of 10 games over Seattle but then won 3 of its next 12.

Chicago started the season 25-6 and led the NL Central division by 12 ½ games in mid June. However, over its past 21 games the Cubs are just 6-15.

Baseball fans will forget about the recent records of both this weekend, while they enjoy watching two of the best in the sport.