Reds at Cubs
Kyle Schwarber looks to homer for the fourth consecutive game when the Chicago Cubs complete a three-game home set against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon. Schwarber hit the game-winning blast in the 10th inning on Tuesday as the Cubs recorded a 4-3 victory to even the series at one win apiece.
Schwarber has recorded five extra-base hits during a modest four-game hitting streak during which he has gone 6-for-16. Robel Garcia belted a two-run shot and Kris Bryant also went deep as Chicago won for the sixth time in eight contests and hold a 2 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee in the National League Central. The Reds held an early 3-0 lead before squandering it and falling to 7-4 against the Cubs this season. Eugenio Suarez has homered in both games of the series and gone deep seven times over his last 12 contests as he leads the club with 23 blasts.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Sonny Gray (5-5, 3.42 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Yu Darvish (2-4, 4.72)
Gray has won three consecutive decisions and is unbeaten over his last eight starts. The 29-year-old has been especially strong in his last three turns, allowing three runs and 13 hits over 21 1/3 innings while registering 27 strikeouts and issuing just five walks. Gray beat the Cubs on June 28, when he gave up two runs and four hits over 6 1/3 frames to improve to 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in three career outings against the club.
Darvish is winless in 13 starts since prevailing on April 27 but has suffered just one setback during that stretch. The 32-year-old from Japan was solid against Pittsburgh on Friday, when he struck out eight batters while allowing two hits over six scoreless innings. Darvish has posted a 5.84 ERA and served up three homers in 12 1/3 frames over two starts against the Reds this season and is 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA in five career turns versus the team.
WALK-OFFS
1. Bryant notched two hits on Tuesday and has recorded six multi-hit performances in his last 11 games.
2. Cincinnati RF Yasiel Puig was hitless in four at-bats on Tuesday after going 16-for-35 with five homers and 11 RBIs over his previous nine contests.
3. Chicago C Martin Maldonado, who was acquired from Kansas City on Monday for LHP Mike Montgomery, went 0-for-4 in his debut with the team.