Cubs at Phillies
The road continues to be unkind to the Chicago Cubs, who lost for the sixth time in their last seven games away from home Saturday. Chicago has scored three runs or less in each of the six losses. The Philadelphia Phillies, meanwhile, have crossed the plate five or more times in four of their last five contests after managing two or less in five of their previous six games.
Philadelphia has split the first two games of this four-game series following a 5-5 road trip. The Phillies managed only six hits in Saturday's 5-2 victory, with Carlos Ruiz collecting two. Ruiz delivered a two-run single in the fourth inning that put Philadelphia ahead for good before adding a solo homer in the sixth. Ty Wigginton came off the bench and went 1-for-2, extending his hitting streak to 13 games. Welington Castillo made his season debut for Chicago and was one of just two players in the starting lineup without a hit. Starlin Castro has hit safely in 18 of 21 games for the Cubs.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), WB17 (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Matt Garza (1-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (0-1, 9.39 ERA)
Garza tossed seven strong innings in a no-decision against St. Louis on Monday after yielding six runs over five frames at Miami in his first road start of the season. The 28-year-old right-hander has pitched well in three career starts against Philadelphia, going 1-1 while allowing three earned runs and striking out 16 over 21 innings.
Kendrick will be making his second start in place of the injured Cliff Lee. His first did not go well as he was pounded for seven runs and 11 hits over three innings in a loss at Arizona on Monday. The 27-year-old has faced the Cubs twice in his career, allowing three hits over four frames in one start and one relief appearance.
WALK-OFFS
1. Phillies slugger Ryan Howard (Achilles) will head to Clearwater on Sunday to continue his rehabilitation and could be joined soon by second baseman Chase Utley (knees).
2. Philadelphia's Jim Thome is day-to-day after leaving Saturday's game after four innings with lower back tightness.
3. Cubs catcher Steve Clevenger was placed in the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained oblique.