Reds at Cubs
The Chicago Cubs were looking for a hot streak coming out of the All-Star break to cement their position atop the National League Central and ripped off a three-game sweep over the weekend. The Cincinnati Reds, who visit the Cubs for the opener of a three-game set on Monday, need every win they can get as they attempt to stay in the race.
Chicago enters the week 2 1/2 games clear of the Milwaukee Brewers in the Central after bashing its way to a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates by scoring 22 runs in the series. "I think (the improvement is) more mental than anything else," Cubs All-Star Kris Bryant told reporters after Sunday's 8-3 triumph. "You can play through the physical tiredness, but when you're going at it every day, getting beat up like we were before the All-Star break, it's more of a mental grind. So, I think we are mentally rested, and that's a good thing." The Reds sit in last place in the Central but are only 6 1/2 games behind Chicago in the tightly packed race after dropping two of three at the Colorado Rockies over the weekend. The surging Cubs offense will have to deal with All-Star right-hander Luis Castillo on Monday while countering with righty Kyle Hendricks.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Luis Castillo (8-3, 2.29 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (7-7, 3.49)
Castillo represented Cincinnati at the All-Star Game on Tuesday and struck out a pair in a perfect fourth inning, picking up right where he left off before the break. The 26-year-old last worked on July 4 against Milwaukee and allowed one hit while striking out nine over 7 2/3 scoreless innings to earn a win. Castillo's previous start was at home against Chicago on June 29, when he came out on the wrong end of a shutout and absorbed a loss despite surrendering one run and three hits in seven innings.
Hendricks is making his third start since coming back from a shoulder injury and was held to four innings or fewer in each of the first two turns. The 29-year-old last worked at the Chicago White Sox on July 7, allowing two runs and four hits in four innings while striking out six and building up to 86 pitches. Hendricks is facing Cincinnati for the third time in 2019 and yielded a total of four runs and nine hits over 14 innings in the first two chances.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds RF Jesse Winker (oblique) left Sunday's game and is day-to-day.
2. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo recorded multiple hits in four of the last six games.
3. Chicago C Willson Contreras (foot) was held out Sunday and is day-to-day.