Phillies at Cubs
J.T. Realmuto played significant roles both offensively and defensively to help the Philadelphia Phillies win the opener of their four-game series against the Chicago Cubs. Victorious in four in a row and 15 of their last 22, the National League East-leading Phillies aim to continue their good fortune on Tuesday against the NL Central-best Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Realmuto had an RBI single in the sixth inning before going deep for the second straight game with a solo homer in the 10th of Philadelphia's 5-4 win on Monday. Jean Segura extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI single in the ninth inning, although his ill-advised decision to try for second ended the threat. Chicago's Anthony Rizzo highlighted his three-hit performance with an RBI single, although he was denied of scoring a run after Realmuto made a sweeping tag following a throw from Bryce Harper. Albert Almora Jr., who collected a pair of hits in the opener, is 9-for-20 with a pair of homers and six runs scored in his last six contests.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Philadelphia, WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Zach Eflin (5-4, 2.89 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (4-3, 3.68)
Eflin saw his three-start winning streak come to a halt last Thursday after allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings of an 11-3 setback versus Milwaukee. Despite the loss, the 25-year-old Eflin is sporting a 1.80 ERA in his last four starts (30 innings) and has yielded just 22 hits in that stretch. Eflin owns a 1-1 mark with a 3.20 ERA in three career starts versus Chicago, with Kris Bryant (6-for-10) enjoying considerable success against him.
Quintana answered a 4-0 mark in five outings by sustaining his second straight setback last Thursday after permitting three runs on six hits over five innings of a 4-2 setback at Cincinnati. The 30-year-old has been taken deep in back-to-back outings after keeping the ball in the park in five of his previous seven. Andrew McCutchen (5-for-13), Sean Rodriguez (4-for-10) and Cesar Hernandez (3-for-7, four RBIs) have fared well versus Quintana, who is 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA in four career starts against Philadelphia.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago C Willson Contreras is 7-for-15 with four RBIs over his last four contests.
2. Hernandez is 8-for-16 with three doubles and a triple during his four-game hitting streak.
3. Bryant is 1-for-12 in his last three contests after erupting for four hits, five RBIs and three runs scored in Friday's 14-6 win at Washington.