Chicago @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2018 ) Chi. Cubs 1, Philadelphia 2

The Philadelphia Phillies ended an otherwise difficult August with a dramatic win and now set their sights on a strong closing month, beginning with Saturday's matchup against the visiting Chicago Cubs. Asdrubal Cabrera launched a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Phillies to a 2-1 win in the opener of the three-game series Friday night.

It gave Philadelphia two straight wins following a 7-14 swoon and pulled the club within two games of first-place Atlanta in the National League East. The Cubs went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position in the loss but are expected to welcome back third baseman Kris Bryant, who missed more than a month with shoulder inflammation, and may also activate shortstop Addison Russell (shoulder/finger) on Saturday. They will take aim at Phillies right-hander Zach Eflin, who starts Saturday opposite Kyle Hendricks for Chicago. The Cubs finished August at 18-10 and hold a 3 1/2-game lead on second-place St. Louis in the NL Central.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (10-10, 3.86 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Zach Eflin (9-5, 3.99)

Hendricks became a 10-game winner for the second time in his career by tossing seven scoreless innings in a rout of Cincinnati his last time out. He is 4-1 with a 3.26 ERA over a six-start span and has lasted seven frames three times during that stretch. The 28-year-old gave up five runs over five innings in a loss to the Phillies earlier this year and is 3-2 with a 3.58 ERA in five career meetings.

Eflin is 0-1 with an ERA of 7.27 over his last two starts - both of which were against the Washington Nationals. He outdueled Hendricks on June 5 with 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball and has a 2.45 ERA in two career starts versus the Cubs. Bryant is 5-for-8 against the 24-year-old Eflin.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cubs placed OF Jason Heyward (hamstring) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP Dillon Maples from Triple-A Iowa.

2. Phillies OF Roman Quinn doubled and scored his team's first run Friday night and is 14-for-29 during an eight-game hitting streak.

3. Chicago reportedly signed LHP Jaime Garcia, who had been released by Toronto.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Phillies 4