The Chicago Cubs hope their outburst at the plate in the series opener is a sign of things to come rather than an outlier, especially with uncertainty about who will be on the mound for them next time out. After breaking out of a prolonged offensive slump, the Cubs aim for their second straight victory when they host the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.
The Cubs totaled 14 runs during a five-game losing streak before pounding four homers in Monday's 14-2 triumph. It’s been that way all season for Chicago, which has scored 10 or more runs six times but also has been shut out or held to one run on eight occasions. The loss prevented a three-game winning streak for the Marlins, who have won four consecutive series and eight of their last 12 contests. The Cubs could be without Javier Baez, the National League’s RBI leader with 32, as the flashy second baseman left the opener with tightness in his right groin after homering for the third straight game.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Urena (0-5, 4.28 ERA) vs. TBD
Urena has posted two straight quality starts, allowing two earned runs over 14 innings, but has found himself on the wrong end of shutouts in both cases. The 26-year-old is winless in nine straight turns dating to last season, and the Marlins have lost all seven of his starts this year. Urena is 2-2 with a 4.71 ERA in four career starts against the Cubs, including a loss on Opening Day.
Yu Darvish was scheduled to start the second game of the series for the Cubs, but he landed on the disabled list Monday due to illness. Right-hander Jen-Ho Tseng was scratched from his start at Triple-A Iowa on Monday and is likely to be called up to make his second career start. The 23-year-old native of Taiwan escaped with a no-decision in his major-league debut against the New York Mets on Sept. 14 after yielding five runs in only three innings but picked up a win two weeks later, when he worked three scoreless frames of relief at St. Louis without giving up a hit.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs OF Ian Happ, who homered from both sides of the plate on Monday, is 4-for-8 with a double and two homers versus Urena.
2. The Marlins have lost eight of their last nine games at Wrigley Field.
3. Chicago 3B Kris Bryant has homered in consecutive games and is sitting on 99 career blasts.