Cubs at White Sox
The Chicago Cubs needed just one big inning to take the series opener while sliding into first place in the National League Central and look to finish off a two-game sweep of the host Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon. Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber each knocked in two of the five runs the Cubs scored in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 6-3 victory, moving one-half game ahead of Milwaukee in the division.
Anthony Rizzo went 4-for-7 and Kris Bryant 6-for-9 to help the Cubs win the last two contests while Baez continues adding to his impressive numbers which include 22 homers, 23 doubles and 62 RBIs. Kyle Hendricks hopes to send the Cubs into the All-Star break with another victory when he takes the mound in the series finale while veteran right-hander Ivan Nova will try to end the first half on a high note after losing his last two starts. The White Sox had won five of seven games coming into the series but went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position Saturday and managed six hits - two each from Jose Abreu and red-hot Yoan Moncada, who is 19-for-49 during a 12-game hitting streak. Abreu is 10-for-24 with five RBIs during a five-game hitting streak and leads the White Sox with 20 homers and 65 runs batted in.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago (Cubs), WGN (White Sox)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (7-6, 3.45 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Ivan Nova (3-7, 5.92)
Hendricks held Pittsburgh to two runs on four hits over three innings Tuesday in his first start since missing four weeks due to a shoulder impingement. The 29-year-old Dartmouth product had won six straight decisions, boasting a 1.99 ERA during that eight-start stretch, before allowing seven runs over 7 1/3 innings in the last two. Abreu is 6-for-12 with a double versus Hendricks, who went 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA in two starts against the White Sox last year.
Nova is winless in his last seven starts after permitting four runs on seven hits (two homers) in a 10-3 loss against Minnesota on June 29. The 32-year-old Dominican Republic native has given up 122 hits across 94 1/3 innings overall this season, including 19 homers, and earned his last win at Houston on May 22. One of Nova’s best performances during his winless streak against the Cubs on June 18 when he yielded one run over five innings and is 4-2 lifetime versus the cross-city rivals.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox 2B Yolmer Sanchez did not miss a game after getting stitches in his right hand and is 8-for-21 during a six-game hitting streak.
2. Cubs OF Jason Heyward (back, hip) returned to the lineup Saturday after missing two games and went 0-for-4.
3. The White Sox lead the all-time series 61-60, but the Cubs have outscored their city rivals 553-529.