The Chicago Cubs look to win their eighth straight game – and perhaps secure home-field advantage for the National League wild-card game – when they wrap up the regular season Sunday at the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs, who will face Pittsburgh in the NL wild-card game Wednesday, will earn home-field advantage with a win and a Pirates loss against Cincinnati on Sunday.
It could be the swan song of Cubs right-hander Dan Haren’s 13-year career, as he has said he plans to retire after the season and his role in the postseason is unclear. Haren looks to continue a run of dominance by Chicago starting pitchers, who have allowed one run in 45 1/3 innings over the past seven games. The Brewers will start a rookie for the 12th consecutive game with right-hander Jorge Lopez making his second major-league start. The Cubs have won 11 of the past 12 meetings and lead the series 13-5.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, WGN, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Dan Haren (10-9, 3.67 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jorge Lopez (1-0, 5.40)
Haren can go out on a good note if he can duplicate his last outing, when he allowed three hits and struck out six over 7 1/3 scoreless innings at Cincinnati. The Cubs have won four of Haren’s last five starts, and the 35-year-old is 3-2 with a 4.30 ERA in 10 starts since being acquired from Miami. Haren is 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA in six games (five starts) against the Brewers and picked up the win in the only meeting this season.
Lopez won his major-league debut Tuesday at San Diego, allowing three runs and eight hits over five innings. The hard-throwing 22-year-old from Puerto Rico struck out seven and walked two, which ran up his pitch count and prevented him from pitching deeper. Lopez had an outstanding season at Double-A Biloxi, going 12-5 with a 2.26 ERA in 24 starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs SS Addison Russell, who drove in the only run in Saturday’s 1-0 win, is 7-for-15 during a four-game hitting streak.
2. The Brewers have only six hits – one for extra bases – through the first two games of the series.
3. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo and 3B/OF Kris Bryant each have 99 RBIs and are trying to become the first Cubs duo to reach 100 in the same season since Moises Alou and Aramis Ramirez in 2004.