Indians at Cubs
Phenom Francisco Lindor is expected to make his first start in the major leagues when the Cleveland Indians visit the Chicago Cubs on Monday for the opener of a four-game, home-and-home interleague series. Ranked by MLB.com as the No. 3 prospect in baseball, the 21-year-old shortstop made his debut in Sunday's 8-1 loss at Detroit, going 1-for-2 off the bench.
Brandon Moss prevented Cleveland from being shut out by belting his team-leading 11th home run in the ninth inning. The loss was the fifth in seven contests for the Indians, who host the final two games of the series beginning Wednesday. Chicago posted its fourth win in five games Sunday, a 2-1 triumph over Cincinnati in 11 innings. Starlin Castro completed a 3-for-5 performance with a walk-off RBI single, his second such base hit in as many days.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), WPWR (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (5-3, 3.53 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (6-4, 3.16)
Bauer lasted a season-low 3 2/3 innings against Seattle on Wednesday, surrendering six runs on four hits and five walks en route to his second loss in three starts. The 24-year-old California native had given up fewer than three runs in each of his previous five outings, going 3-1 in that span. Bauer, who has yet to face Chicago in his career, is 3-1 with a 1.32 ERA in five road outings this season.
Arrieta recorded his third victory in four decisions Wednesday, winning at Detroit after allowing three runs in six innings. The 29-year-old from Missouri fanned eight, raising his season strikeout total to 83 against 15 walks in 77 frames. Arrieta is 1-0 in three career starts against Cleveland despite surrendering 16 runs and 22 hits over 14 2/3 innings (9.20 ERA).
WALK-OFFS
1. Lindor batted .281 with two homers and 22 RBIs in 58 games with Triple-A Columbus this year.
2. Cleveland RHP Jacob Turner (shoulder) made his second rehab start for Double-A Tennessee on Sunday, allowing two hits and a walk over five scoreless innings.
3. The teams are meeting for the first time since 2009.