Chicago @ San Francisco preview
AT&T Park
Last Meeting ( May 27, 2018 ) San Francisco 3, Chi. Cubs 8
The surging Chicago Cubs head west for the week with first place in the National League Central within reach. The Cubs kick off a six-game West Coast trip that will take them into the All-Star break when they begin a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Monday.
The Cubs have won nine of their last 11 contests to move a season-high 15 games above .500, but they still trail Milwaukee by 1 1/2 in the NL Central. Each of Chicago's last nine victories have been of the comeback variety - including a 6-5 triumph in 10 innings Sunday against Cincinnati - and the club is tied for the major-league lead with 28 such wins. The Giants hit .167 as a team and scored a total of 10 runs over a six-game stretch before erupting for 17 hits in a 13-8 victory over visiting St. Louis on Sunday. HIghly touted prospect Steven Duggar contributed two hits in his major-league debut while batting leadoff and playing center field.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Chicago, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (5-8, 4.27 ERA) vs. Giants LH Andrew Suarez (3-5, 3.92)
Hendricks has lost five of his last six decisions and posted a 6.29 ERA over his last seven outings. The 28-year-old relies on pinpoint command and has struggled to locate his pitches recently, issuing 18 walks in five turns last month before limiting the number to one free pass over five innings in a no-decision against Detroit on Tuesday. Hendricks is 3-2 with a 3.06 ERA in six career starts versus San Francisco.
Suarez has posted a 2.10 ERA over his last five starts, allowing fewer than three runs in each, but has recorded only one win over that stretch. The 25-year-old rookie struck out six and gave up one run over seven frames Wednesday at Colorado but was on the wrong end of a 1-0 decision. Suarez is 1-2 with a 3.13 ERA in six home starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs 2B Javier Baez, who was named a starter for his first All-Star Game on Sunday, is 31-for-72 with 11 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 19 RBIs in his last 19 games.
2. Giants 1B Brandon Belt, a candidate for the All-Star Final Vote, is 5-for-13 with a homer versus Hendricks.
3. Chicago LF Kyle Schwarber is 9-for-23 during his seven-game hitting streak while C Willson Contreras has gone 11-for-22 during his six-game run.
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Giants 4