Cubs at Mets
A pair of slumping middle infielders came to life just when the Chicago Cubs needed them most, helping to end a three-game losing streak and halt their doldrums away from home. Javier Báez and Addison Russell each swatted two-run homers and collected three hits to put Chicago in position to secure a series win at the New York Mets on Wednesday night.
Baez ended a 17-game homer drought with his first blast since Aug. 5 to put him within one of reaching 30 for the second straight season as the Cubs closed within three games of wild-card leading Washington. Russell, who was 2-for-14 since he was recalled from the minors, went deep for the second straight game as Chicago improved to 26-39 on the road. New York lost its fourth straight to fall three games behind the Cubs for the second wild card despite rookie Pete Alonso's 42nd homer, which set a franchise single-season record. Mets righty Noah Syndergaard looks to continue his superb second half of the season when he opposes Chicago's Kyle Hendricks, who has won all three career starts versus New York.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (9-9, 3.20 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (9-6, 3.71)
Hendricks turned in a masterful performance against San Francisco on Thursday, earning the victory with seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball while striking out seven in a 1-0 victory. He also went seven stellar innings in his previous turn but had to settle for a no-decision at Pittsburgh despite allowing one hit on three runs. Hendricks has limited the Mets to one run over 19 1/3 innings in his career and has flustered Wilson Ramos (2-for-12) and Todd Frazier (3-for-12).
Syndergaard lowered his ERA to 1.82 in eight starts since the All-Star break by dominating Cleveland last time out, tossing six scoreless innings of two-hit ball to improve to 3-2 in that span. The 6-foot-6 fireballer is 8-for-8 in quality starts in the second half and has surrendered one homer in that span after giving up 14 in his first 17 appearances. Syndergaard has made four starts against Chicago, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA, but he must be wary of Baez (4-for-7) and Kris Bryant (3-for-8).
WALK-OFFS
1. Alonso became the first rookie to set a team's single-season homer record since Pittsburgh's Johnny Rizzo in 1938.
2. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo sat out his second straight game due to back tightness and could miss the rest of the series.
3. Ramos extended his hitting streak to a career-high 20 games.