The boom-or-bust nature of the Chicago Cubs’ offense persists, and at this moment their bats are booming. The Cubs have hit double digits on the scoreboard in consecutive games - giving them a major league-best 12 this year - and they'll try to stay hot in the second of a three-game series against the visiting Minnesota Twins on Saturday.
Addison Russell’s grand slam in the fifth inning gave the Cubs the lead for good in a 10-6 victory in the series opener, while Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, and Kyle Schwarber also went deep. It was Chicago’s 22nd comeback victory - tied with Philadelphia for the most in the majors. Minnesota has lost six of its last eight overall and 12 of 17 on the road, and the Twins are turning to young left-hander Adalberto Mejia to take on the unenviable task of trying to slow down the Cubs’ potent lineup. The Cubs were hoping to have star right-hander Yu Darvish back in the rotation Saturday, but he will receive a cortisone shot for a right elbow impingement and inflammation and will not be able to resume throwing for three to five days, so Tyler Chatwood takes his turn in the rotation.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS North (Minnesota), ABC 7 (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Adalberto Mejia (2017: 4-7, 4.50 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Tyler Chatwood (3-5, 3.95)
Mejia will be called up from Triple-A Rochester to make his first big-league appearance of the season. The 25-year-old made 21 starts for the Twins a year ago and held his own, pitching at least five innings and allowing three or fewer runs 10 times. Mejia has pitched well at Triple-A this season, going 4-2 with a 2.74 ERA in 11 games (nine starts).
After missing his last start to attend the birth of his first child, Chatwood returns to the rotation for his first outing since June 19. The 28-year-old is winless in seven starts since May 11, and he hasn’t posted a quality start since April 29 - largely because his control problems have prevented him from pitching deep into games. Chatwood has issued 63 walks over 68 1/3 innings and has handed out at least five free passes in nine of his 14 starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Russell is the first Cubs player with at least four RBIs in consecutive games since Zobrist from May 5-6, 2016.
2. Twins 1B/DH Joe Mauer is 9-for-18 with two homers and nine RBIs in four career games at Wrigley Field.
3. Schwarber has homered in three consecutive home games.