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Bernfield: Chicago fans already dreaming of a Red Line World Series

Chicago is rarely the center of the baseball universe. Its two baseball franchises have only reached the postseason in the same year twice.

In 1906, the Cubs and White Sox met in the World Series. The Sox won in six games, with Ed Walsh winning twice to lead the South Siders to their first championship in franchise history.

The two teams made 21 more combined playoff appearances over the next 102 years, but it wasn't until 2008 when both made it to the postseason together again.

That season, the Cubs went 97-64 and ran away with the National League Central Division crown by 7.5 games over the Brewers. The White Sox won a dramatic Game 163, better known as The Blackout Game, to eclipse the Minnesota Twins for the American League Central title by one game. Both Chicago teams were eliminated in their opening playoff series, but they provided fans a memorable summer.

Fast-forward to 2016. The Cubs and White Sox have the top records in their respective leagues. The Cubs are off to their best start since 1907 and have the best record in the game. The White Sox strung together six straight wins last week and were the first team to 16 victories this season.

Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight.com gives the Cubs a 93-percent chance of making the playoffs. They're projected to finish the year 103-59 - the best team in baseball by 8 games. Silver has the White Sox finishing 89-73, with a 62-percent chance of reaching the playoffs. He gives them better odds to win the World Series than the reigning champion Kansas City Royals.

The Cubs have done it with relentless offense and exemplary pitching. As of Sunday, they had the second-most runs, second-highest on-base percentage, and most walks in the league. They posted the second-best team ERA, were first in fewest runs allowed, and led the league in opponent's batting average.

The White Sox have pitched and defended their way to the top of the American League. They entered Sunday's play having allowed the fourth-fewest runs (tied with Seattle) and the third-best ERA. After finishing 24th in defensive fielding percentage last year, the Sox now rank 11th. And Adam Eaton leads Major League Baseball in defensive WAR.

It is hard to question the Cubs' sustainability. They have the most complete roster in baseball. They lost Kyle Schwarber, have six regulars hitting below .270, and still have one of the best offenses in the game. Jake Arrieta has picked up right where he left off last year, Jon Lester has been better, and the addition of John Lackey - though with mixed results so far - has lengthened the Cubs starting rotation.

The White Sox's sustainability hinges on their offense producing enough runs to assist their top-heavy starting rotation. They have scored more consistently this past week, even though neither Jose Abreu nor Todd Frazier has heated up yet. Both were batting below .230 on Sunday.

Both teams figure to contend through the end of September, and it should make for another fun - and potentially historic - summer. As April turns to May, baseball fans on both sides of town are dreaming of a Red Line World Series.

• Jordan Bernfield is an anchor and co-host of "Inside The Clubhouse" on WSCR 670-AM The Score. He also works as a play-by-play broadcaster for ESPN. Follow him on Twitter@JordanBernfield.

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