Brewers at Cubs
The Milwaukee Brewers likely will welcome roster expansion with open arms on Sunday considering the recent spate of injuries that have ravaged the club. The bandaged-up Brewers would be best served to focus their attention on securing a series victory on Sunday afternoon when they play the rubber match of a three-game set against the host Chicago Cubs.
Ben Gamel made the most of his promotion from Triple-A San Antonio by highlighting a three-hit performance with a leadoff double and a run scored in the first inning of Milwaukee's 2-0 win on Saturday. Gamel was summoned along with Travis Shaw as celebrated rookie Keston Hiura (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list for the Brewers, who have seen Mike Moustakas (hand), Ryan Braun (back) and Lorenzo Cain (knee) nurse various ailments. While Milwaukee posted just its second victory in six outings to move within four games of Chicago for the second wild card in the National League, the Cubs saw their four-game winning streak come to a halt. Anthony Rizzo collected two hits in his return from a five-game absence with mid-back tightness heading into an encounter with Sunday starter Gio Gonzalez, against whom he is 2-for-30 with eight strikeouts.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 4.34 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Yu Darvish (5-6, 4.25)
Gonzalez looks to avenge a porous outing against St. Louis in which he surrendered nine runs overall and four walks for the third straight turn when he faces Chicago for the fourth time this season. The 33-year-old has fared well versus the Cubs in 2019, posting a 1-0 mark with a 1.65 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 16 1/3 innings while limiting the club to a .179 batting average. Javier Baez (2-for-13, seven strikeouts), Kris Bryant (3-for-16) and Jason Heyward (8-for-43) have struggled mightily against Gonzalez, who sports a 4-3 record with a 2.77 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 13 career encounters versus Chicago.
Darvish collected his first win in over three weeks on Tuesday after allowing one run on five hits over eight innings of a 5-2 victory at the New York Mets. The 33-year-old native of Japan has enjoyed stellar command of the strike zone over his last six turns, fanning 51 against just one walk in that stretch (37 1/3 innings). Darvish improved to 1-1 with a 2.05 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in four career starts versus the Brewers on Aug. 4 after striking out eight and permitting one run on five hits in a 7-2 victory.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago OF-INF Ben Zobrist is expected to return to the team on Sunday for the first time since taking an indefinite leave of absence amid filing for divorce from his wife Julianna.
2. Milwaukee LHP Brent Suter, who had Tommy John surgery on July 31 of last season, returned from his minor-league rehab assignment and will be activated Sunday.
3. Five of Baez's last eight hits have gone for extra bases (four doubles, homer).