Cubs at Mariners
The Chicago Cubs have won five of their last six road games, and will try to stay hot away from home when they play a two-game series against the host Seattle Mariners starting Tuesday. Chicago has won 11 of its last 15 overall to match its high-water mark for the season at two games above .500.
The Mariners have cooled considerably since their hot start, losing 11 of their past 16 contests, including 15-1 and 14-1 drubbings at the hands of the Texas Rangers over the weekend. Shoddy defense continued to plague Seattle, which has committed a major league-high 37 errors in 31 games. The Cubs badly needed Monday’s idle day after outlasting Arizona 6-5 in 15 innings in Sunday’s series finale. Chicago slugger Kris Bryant showed some signs of coming alive at the plate against the Diamondbacks, homering in two of the three games after going 21 contests without a homer since he went deep on opening day.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Cole Hamels (3-0, 3.16 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (1-2, 3.91)
Hamels struggled with his command a bit last time out, issuing six walks in a no-decision against the Dodgers. The 35-year-old struck out seven and limited the damage to three runs, but was unable to get through the sixth inning. Hamels is 7-3 with a 4.64 ERA in 14 starts against the Mariners, mostly during his tenure in Texas.
Hernandez has posted quality starts in two of his last three outings and gone at least six innings in all three. The 33-year-old had a season-high eight strikeouts over seven strong innings at San Diego on Wednesday, allowing one run and three hits. Hernandez has made two starts against the Cubs - in 2010 and 2016 - and has allowed four runs over 14 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners RF Mitch Haniger missed Sunday’s game with a sore right shoulder but hopes to be back in the lineup Tuesday.
2. The Cubs are 13-1 when leading or tied after five innings and 1-11 when trailing through five.
3. Seattle OF Mallex Smith is 0-for-23 over his last nine games.