Chicago @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 25, 2018 ) Chi. Cubs 5, Kansas City 3

The Chicago Cubs has been a .500 team since the All-Star break and hopes to take advantage of the struggling Kansas City Royals when they open a three-game road series on Monday night. The Cubs are 9-9 since the Midsummer Classic and hold just a one-game lead over second-place Milwaukee in the National League Central after dropping a 10-6 decision at home against San Diego on Sunday.

Chicago slugger Anthony Rizzo arrives in Kansas City after going 7-for-14 with two homers and four RBIs in the four-game set against the Padres while sitting just four hits away from 1,000 in his career. The Cubs (64-47), who visit the Royals for the first time since 2011, will send newcomer Cole Hamels to the mound for his second start with the team Monday, while right-hander Jakob Junis goes after his second straight win for Kansas City. The Royals (34-77) have dropped four in a row - three in a row at Minnesota over the weekend - and hold just a half-game lead over Baltimore (34-78) for the worst record in baseball. Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield had four hits in Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the Twins and is 11-for-23 with two homers to go along with five RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago Plus, FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Cole Hamels (6-9, 4.53 ERA) vs. RH Jake Junis (6-11, 5.12)

Hamels won his first start with the Cubs, allowing one unearned run on three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts over five innings at Pittsburgh. The 34-year-old San Diego native had given up 25 runs (21 earned) in his previous four turns with Texas before the trade. Hamels went 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in two starts against Kansas City earlier this year and is 4-2 with a 3.00 mark in seven career outings versus the Royals.

Junis snapped a 10-game winless stretch Wednesday at the Chicago White Sox, permitting four runs on six hits and three walks across 5 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old Illinois native, who has allowed 26 homers in his 20 starts, owned a 3.61 ERA through May but has recorded a 7.33 mark over eight starts in June and July. Junis faces the Cubs for the first time in his career and is 2-1 with a 4.13 ERA in five career interleague starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago INF/OF Ben Zobrist is 13-for-27 with five doubles and two homers over his last seven outings.

2. Kansas City OF Alex Gordon boasts multiple hits in five of his last six games and registered eight RBIs in his past five contests.

3. The Cubs are 8-4 in interleague play while the Royals stand 3-6; the clubs are meeting for the first time since 2015.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Royals 3