Athletics at Cubs
The Oakland Athletics have enjoyed hitting at Wrigley Field the last two days and hope to leave the legendary park with a series victory when they visit the Chicago Cubs for the finale of a three-game set on Wednesday afternoon. The Athletics launched three homers in the series-opening 6-5 loss before scoring eight times in the second inning Tuesday en route to an 11-4 victory.
Stephen Piscotty and recent waiver claim Dustin Garneau each launched three-run homers Tuesday among 13 hits as Oakland remained one-half game behind Tampa Bay for the American League’s second wild card after improving to 10-5 in interleague play. Homer Bailey, who was 5-3 with a 3.79 ERA in his career at Wrigley Field in his time with the Cincinnati Reds, gets the ball in the series finale for the Athletics and veteran lefty Jose Quintana will try to get the Cubs back on track after their four-game winning streak ended Tuesday. Chicago, though, maintained its 2 1/2-game lead on second-place St. Louis in the National League Central while losing for only the third time in 15 home contests. Nicholas Castellanos has made quite an impression since arriving in a deal from Detroit at the trade deadline, going 10-for-25 with five doubles, a homer and three RBIs while hitting safely in all six games with the Cubs.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Homer Bailey (9-7, 5.20 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (9-7, 4.40)
Bailey boasts three quality starts in four outings since being acquired from Kansas City after allowing two runs on five hits over six innings in a no-decision against Milwaukee last Thursday. The 33-year-old Texan has lost just once in his last 10 trips to the mound while yielding three or fewer runs in eight of those appearances. Anthony Rizzo is 11-for-28 with four doubles and two homers versus Bailey, who is 8-5 with a 4.86 ERA in 20 career starts against the Cubs.
Quintana is unbeaten in his last six starts after notching his fifth win during that stretch last Friday against Milwaukee when he permitted two runs across six innings. The 30-year-old Colombian, who is 6-4 with a 4.46 ERA at home this year, has not been dominant despite his record of late - giving up 10 runs over 15 2/3 innings in his past three outings. Marcus Semien is 5-for-8 with two doubles against Quintana, who is 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA in five career starts versus Oakland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago 3B-OF Kris Bryant was 2-for-5 with a two-run homer Tuesday after going 3-for-34 in his previous eight games.
2. Oakland RHP Liam Hendriks has at least one strikeout in 24 consecutive outings, fanning 46 total in 26 innings during that stretch.
3. The Cubs placed RHP Brandon Kintzler (pectoral inflammation) on the 10-day injured list and activated RHP Pedro Strop (neck) on Tuesday.