Chicago @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2018 ) Chi. Cubs 1, Detroit 2
There was all kinds of breaking news surrounding the Chicago Cubs to start the week, but one thing remained unchanged - their offensive struggles. The Cubs hope the arrival of Daniel Murphy from Washington will help kick start their offense in the finale of a two-game road set against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.
The Cubs were limited to a single solo home run for the fifth consecutive game in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Tigers, and they hope Murphy can add some much-needed punch to the lineup. “He’s kind of exactly what we need right now," Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters. "Put that kind of at-bat at the top of the order and let him get his at-bats in and set a good example for the rest of the hitters.” The acquisition wasn’t the only news of the day for the Cubs, who also learned right-hander Yu Darvish will miss the remainder of the season with a stress reaction on his pitching elbow and scratched shortstop Addison Russell from Tuesday’s lineup with right shoulder inflammation. The Tigers won for only the second time in their last seven games but improved to 33-30 at home.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (13-5, 3.72 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Francisco Liriano (3-8, 4.72)
After struggling in three consecutive starts, Lester bounced back with a strong outing Thursday at Pittsburgh. The 34-year-old matched his season high with eight strikeouts and limited the Pirates to five hits over six scoreless innings to earn his first win since July 15. Lester is 2-6 with a 6.05 ERA in 11 starts against the Tigers, but he hasn’t faced them since 2015.
Liriano hasn’t won since April 28, and he hasn’t posted a quality start since July 4 against the Cubs. The 34-year-old is 0-3 with a 6.85 ERA over his last seven outings (six starts) and was tagged for eight runs (four earned) over 1 2/3 innings Thursday at Minnesota. Liriano is 5-5 with a 3.35 ERA in 15 starts against the Cubs with his last win coming in 2015.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs are 0-for-22 with runners in scoring position during their major league-record streak of five straight games scoring only one run on a solo homer.
2. Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer (left oblique strain) could return to the rotation Friday after two dominant rehab starts with High-A Lakeland.
3. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant (left shoulder inflammation) took batting practice on the field Tuesday and is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon.
PREDICTION: Cubs 3, Tigers 2