Cubs at Brewers
The Chicago Cubs are back atop the National League Central standings, but they’ll have to continue their dominance over the Milwaukee Brewers to stay there. The visiting Cubs aim for a ninth win in 10 meetings with the Brewers this season when the division rivals play the middle contest of their three-game series on Tuesday.
Anthony Rizzo’s tie-breaking home run set off a five-run 11th inning in the Cubs’ 7-2 win in the series opener, moving them one-half game ahead of the Brewers for the NL’s best record. Chicago’s pitchers have held Milwaukee at bay, allowing only 11 runs in the first nine meetings. The Cubs hope command-challenged starter Tyler Chatwood can duplicate his first start against the Brewers this season, a 2-0 victory in which he allowed two hits over seven innings. He will oppose Chase Anderson, who is 0-2 against the Cubs this season despite allowing only three runs over 13 frames in the two outings.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Tyler Chatwood (3-4, 3.86 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Chase Anderson (4-5, 4.57)
Chatwood is winless in his last five starts, largely because he hasn’t been able to pitch deep enough into games. The 28-year-old allowed only one run and four hits in Thursday’s turn against Philadelphia, but he issued seven walks and left after 4 2/3 innings. Chatwood is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in five career games (four starts) against the Brewers.
Anderson pitched well in his return from the disabled list on May 21 but has struggled in three outings since. The 30-year-old allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings in a loss at Cleveland on Wednesday and has posted a 7.24 ERA over his last three turns. Anderson is 3-4 with a 3.33 ERA in nine career starts against the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rizzo has driven in a run in eight straight contests with an at-bat, the longest streak by a Cub since Moises Alou had an RBI in 10 consecutive games in 2004.
2. Milwaukee OFs Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain and C Erik Kratz extended their hitting streaks to six games on Monday.
3. Cubs RF Jason Heyward has recorded an extra-base hit in five straight games and has notched multiple hits in seven of his last 12 contests.