Cubs at Marlins
The Chicago Cubs have won the opener of four of their first six series of 2019, but they’ve yet to pair it with a victory in the second game. The Cubs will try to change that when they visit the Miami Marlins on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set.
Willson Contreras belted his team-leading sixth home run for the Cubs in Monday’s series-opening 7-2 triumph. Chicago has won three of its last four contests and five of its last eight. The tough times continued for the Marlins, who have dropped seven of their last eight games and have yet to win a series this season. Miami has scored three runs or fewer in 12 of its first 17 contests.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jose Quintana (1-1, 5.14 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (1-2, 6.60)
Quintana is coming off one of his best outings since joining the Cubs, as he registered 11 strikeouts while allowing four hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings to defeat Pittsburgh on Thursday. The 30-year-old Colombian featured a devastating changeup that kept the Pirates off-balance, and the pitch might be the key to his success this season. Quintana is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA in two career starts against the Marlins, both of which took place last year.
Lopez showed promise in 10 starts for the Marlins last season, but his first three outings of 2019 have produced mixed results. The 23-year-old Venezuelan pitched into the sixth inning while winning his season debut against Colorado, but he hasn’t lasted past the fifth in losing his last two turns, although the Marlins were shut out in both contests. Lopez is 2-3 with a 3.89 ERA in seven home starts during his young career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Contreras hit only 10 home runs last season, and his sixth did not come until June 27.
2. Marlins 3B-OF Brian Anderson went 0-for-4 on Monday, marking the first time in eight career games against the Cubs he has failed to record a hit.
3. Chicago LHP Mike Montgomery (lat) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with Single-A South Bend on Tuesday.