The competition level steps up for the second leg of the Minnesota Twins’ trip to the Windy City. After salvaging the finale of their three-game series against the Chicago White Sox, the Twins head to the north side for a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs beginning Friday.
The Twins have lost five of their last seven overall, and they’re 15-22 on the road, where they’ve dropped 11 of their last 16 contests. The Cubs are returning home after a rough 2-6 road trip, though they managed a split of their four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with an 11-5 win Thursday. In fact, Chicago has played 14 of its last 17 games away from home, so the Cubs will be eager to get back to Wrigley Field, where they’ve won four straight series. Despite the tough stretch, the Cubs are just 2 1/2 games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central as they begin an eight-game homestand against three teams that are at least six games below .500.
TV: 5:05 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (8-5, 3.15 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Mike Montgomery (2-2, 3.39)
Berrios looks to put a bow on an outstanding month of June with a fifth consecutive quality start. The 24-year-old recorded a season-high 12 strikeouts and allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 win over Texas on Sunday. Berrios has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his last eight outings, posting a 2.05 ERA over that stretch.
Montgomery will make his seventh start since moving into the rotation due to Yu Darvish’s injury, and he’s coming off his least impressive outing during that stint. The 28-year-old allowed four runs over six innings in a no-decision at Cincinnati after giving up four runs over his previous five starts combined. Montgomery has made one start (in 2015) and one relief appearance (in 2016) against the Twins, allowing one run over eight innings with eight strikeouts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs 2B Javier Baez is 13-for-29 with two homers and 11 RBIs over his past eight games.
2. Twins 1B Logan Morrison had two hits Thursday — just his seventh multi-hit game of the season — including his first home run on the road since May 4.
3. Darvish experienced pain in his right triceps after a bullpen session Thursday and will be reevaluated before continuing his rehab assignment or rejoining the Cubs’ rotation.