Pirates at Cubs
Returning to the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field has done wonders for the Chicago Cubs, who have put on an offensive showcase in two games since returning from a lackluster 3-5 road trip. After pounding out nine homers and 31 runs in back-to-back routs of Pittsburgh, the Cubs look to complete a three-game sweep of their division rivals on Sunday afternoon.
Kris Bryant homered among three hits and drove in four runs in Saturday's 14-1 drubbing to tie Ernie Banks for the most home runs (136) in the first five seasons for Chicago, which is assured of maintaining its hold on the second wild card. Rookie Nico Hoerner has collected 11 RBIs in his first six games, matching Bryant with a homer and three hits to help the Cubs set a franchise record with 237 blasts for the season. Nicholas Castellanos had his second three-RBI game in as many days, giving him 33 in 41 games since he was acquired by Chicago from Detroit at the trade deadline. Kevin Newman is 6-for-10 in the series to extend his hitting streak to nine games for Pittsburgh, which fell to 1-7 at Wrigley this season and has allowed at least 10 runs in half those contests.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (7-6, 5.21 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (13-8, 4.15)
Williams labored in his last start at San Francisco on Monday, picking up his second straight no-decision after allowing four runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. That ended a string of three consecutive quality starts for the 27-year-old, a 14-game winner last season who posted a 4-2 record last month despite a bloated 6.68 ERA. Kyle Schwarber is 7-for-20 with three homers and Anthony Rizzo 7-for-21 versus Williams, who split a pair of decisions with a 10.64 ERA against the Cubs this season.
Although Quintana lasted only three innings and was rocked for six runs (four earned) and seven hits at San Diego last Tuesday, he managed to escape with a no-decision. The 30-year-old Colombian is 9-1 over his last 13 starts dating to June 29, helped by an offense that has produced at least six runs 11 times during that span. Quintana has won all four starts and registered a 2.00 ERA against the Pirates this season, holding the team to a collective .216 batting average, but he must be wary of Newman (6-for-12).
WALK-OFFS
1. Bryant is 8-for-17 with three homers and nine RBIs in five games since receiving a cortisone shot in his knee.
2. The Pirates were without CF Starling Marte (wrist), 1B Josh Bell (groin) and C Jacob Stallings (back) on Saturday. Marte missed his sixth straight game.
3. Rizzo is 5-for-8 with a grand slam and six RBIs in the series.