Cubs at Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are 25-25 over their last 50 games, but they know they’ll have to have to play better than .500 ball over their final 22 contests to earn a spot in the postseason. The Brewers look to improve their playoff chances Saturday when they continue their four-game series against the visiting Chicago Cubs.
Christian Yelich went 3-for-4 with his 44th homer and three RBIs in Friday’s 7-1 victory and Yasmani Grandal added a solo blast as the Brewers pulled within four games of Chicago for the second National League wild-card spot. Hernan Perez started at third base in place of Mike Moustakas, who has missed the past three games due to a sore left hand and is not expected to return this weekend. The Cubs saw their six-game road winning streak come to an end but remained 2 1/2 games back of NL Central-leading St. Louis. Nick Castellanos belted his 13th homer in 33 games since being acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline, but Javier Baez was scratched from the starting lineup with soreness in his left thumb and will have an MRI exam on Saturday.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Yu Darvish (5-6, 4.25 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 4.14)
Darvish missed last Sunday’s scheduled start due to right forearm tightness but was cleared for Saturday’s outing following a successful bullpen session on Thursday. The 33-year-old last pitched on Aug. 27, when he allowed one run over eight innings in a 5-2 win over the New York Mets. Darvish Is 1-1 with a 2.05 ERA in four career starts against the Brewers while limiting Lorenzo Cain to a pair of hits in 14 at-bats.
Gonzalez bounced back from a rough outing against St. Louis by tossing three scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Cubs last Sunday. The 33-year-old native of Florida owns a 5.64 ERA in six outings at home this season compared to a 2.92 mark in eight starts away from Miller Park. Gonzalez is 4-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 14 career starts versus the Cubs while keeping both Anthony Rizzo (2-for-30) and Kris Bryant (3-for-17) in check.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rizzo is 13-for-33 with three homers and 11 RBIs over his last 12 games.
2. Milwaukee recalled Jacob Nottingham from Triple-A San Antonio with fellow C Manny Pina sidelined due to a mild concussion.
3. Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel (elbow) said that he expects to return from the injured list when first eligible on Thursday.