Marlins at Cubs
Kris Bryant has rediscovered his power stroke following a lengthy drought and hopes to continue his surge when the Chicago Cubs host the Miami Marlins on Wednesday for the third contest of their four-game series. Bryant homered in his third straight game on Tuesday, belting a three-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning to give Chicago a 5-2 win.
The former National League Rookie of the Year and MVP homered in the Cubs' season opener but went 21 games without a blast before going deep on April 26 in Arizona. Bryant has hit five of his six homers on the year over his last 10 contests and is riding a four-game RBI streak during which he has driven in nine runs. Albert Almora Jr. also homered and Javier Baez, who plated a run, went 2-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to six games. Martin Prado went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Marlins, who suffered their fourth loss in five contests as they failed in their bid to post back-to-back wins for the third time this season.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Urena (1-5, 5.45 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (2-4, 3.93)
Urena struggled in a loss to Atlanta on Friday, surrendering five runs on six hits and three walks over six innings. The 27-year-old Dominican has worked at least six frames in each of his last four turns and gave up fewer than three earned runs in the three outings prior to the setback against the Braves. Urena has made five career starts versus Chicago, going 2-2 with a 4.78 ERA.
Hendricks is coming off his third career shutout - and first since 2016 - as he limited St. Louis to four singles while recording three strikeouts on Friday. The 29-year-old Californian was very economical, throwing 63 of his 81 pitches for strikes without issuing a walk. Hendricks has pitched well against Miami in his career, going 4-1 with one shutout and a 1.52 ERA in six starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs OF Ben Zobrist was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to personal reasons.
2. Prado has hit safely in six of his last seven contests and nine of his last 12.
3. Chicago 2B Daniel Descalso (ankle) has been kept out of the starting lineup for three straight games but has appeared as a pinch-hitter in each of the last two contests.