Cubs at Cardinals
The Chicago Cubs haven’t swept a series in St. Louis in nearly eight years, but they’ll have a chance to change that Sunday. The Cubs aim to complete their first road sweep of the arch-rival Cardinals since September of 2010 when they wrap up a three-game series Sunday night.
After scoring a total of 11 runs while getting swept during their last three-game series in St. Louis from May 4-6, the Cubs have put up 19 in the first two games during this visit. The consecutive wins have moved Chicago (40-27) back to its high-water mark of 13 games above .500, and the Cubs trail first-place Milwaukee by one-half game in the National League Central. The Cardinals have dropped a season-high four straight and five of their last six and trail the Brewers by five games. St. Louis has been sloppy in the first two games of the series, committing two errors in each contest.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jose Quintana (6-4, 4.09 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (3-2, 2.96)
Quintana has allowed two runs or fewer in three straight starts for the first time since last June, but he only has one win over that stretch. The 29-year-old allowed two runs - on a pair of solo homers - over six innings Monday at Milwaukee for his sixth quality start in 13 outings this season. Quintana is 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA in five starts against the Cardinals, including a loss May 4 in St. Louis.
Flaherty bounced back after a couple of rocky outings to hold San Diego to one run and three hits over 6 1/3 innings in a win Monday. The 22-year-old has yielded just one run in five of his eight starts. Flaherty has piled up 48 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 45 2/3 innings, but he has allowed at least one home run in five straight starts.
WALK-OFFS1. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant has reached safely in his last 15 games against the Cardinals.
2. Cardinals OF Tommy Pham is 12-for-42 during a 10-game hitting streak, and OF Marcell Ozuna is 13-for-34 during a nine-game streak with homers in three straight games and an RBI in seven consecutive contests.
3. St. Louis SS Paul DeJong, who hasn’t played since fracturing his left hand May 17, was cleared to resume hitting Saturday and expects to return in early July.