Cardinals at Cubs
The Chicago Cubs traded for Jose Quintana to give them another pitcher they can count on to win big games, and Sunday’s contest fits the criteria. Quintana and the Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals in the finale of a three-game series as they try to keep pace in the tightening National League Central race.
Quintana was dominant in his Cubs debut last Sunday, racking up 12 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings to win at Baltimore, and he’s eager to pitch in front of his new home crowd. "I'm really excited to be part of this team and throw Sunday against the Cardinals," Quintana told reporters. "I'm excited, man, I'm excited. I don't know what the fans will say to me, but I'll try to do the best." The Cubs evened the series with a 3-2 win Saturday, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth after the Cardinals had broken a scoreless tie with back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the frame. Chicago has won seven of eight since the All-Star break to get within one game of NL Central leader Milwaukee, while St. Louis is 4 1/2 games behind the Brewers.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (7-3, 3.71 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (5-8, 4.20)
Wacha has won four straight starts and five consecutive decisions after throwing a three-hit shutout against the New York Mets on Tuesday. The 26-year-old has been dominant during his four-start winning streak, pitching to a 1.01 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings. Wacha is 4-4 with a 6.35 ERA in 13 games (11 starts) against the Cubs.
Quintana will make his first start as a Cub at Wrigley Field, where he is 0-1 with a 2.51 ERA in two previous outings. The 28-year-old Colombian has posted three scoreless outings in his last five starts and has won his last three decisions. Quintana has won both of his previous starts against the Cardinals, in 2012 and 2015, while allowing two runs over 11 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo is 15-for-31 with three home runs against Wacha.
2. Cardinals OF Randal Grichuk has homered in each of the first two games of the series and is 10-for-26 with two doubles and four home runs against the Cubs this season.
3. Chicago INF Javier Baez is 11-for-20 with two home runs during a five-game hitting streak.