Chicago @ Kansas City preview

Chi. Cubs at Kansas City

Last Meeting ( Aug 7, 2018 ) Chi. Cubs 5, Kansas City 0

If the Chicago Cubs can reach the World Series for the second time in three years, they’ll have the chance to put their dominance over American League opponents to the test. The Cubs are 10-4 in interleague play this season and 37-17 against AL foes since 2016, and they’ll try to add to those totals when they aim to finish off a three-game sweep of the host Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

The Cubs have claimed the first two games of the series behind dominant pitching, outscoring Kansas City 8-1 after Mike Montgomery and three relievers combined for a six-hit shutout Tuesday. Chicago has won five of its last seven to extend its National League Central lead to 2 1/2 games over Milwaukee. The Royals have lost six straight overall and each of their last 10 against left-handed starting pitchers, and they’ll face another southpaw Wednesday in Jose Quintana. Kansas City is tied with Baltimore for the worst record in the majors.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jose Quintana (10-7, 4.12 ERA) vs. Royals RH Heath Fillmyer (0-1, 3.86)

Quintana has been guilty of nibbling at the strike zone and having the walks pile up at times, but the 29-year-old pounded the zone last time out. He struck out six and didn’t issue a walk while limiting San Diego to one run over six innings to win for the fourth time in five starts. Quintana is 3-9 with a 4.05 ERA in 24 starts against the Royals, a familiar foe from his days in the American League Central.

Fillmyer has yet to pitch in a game the Royals have won. The 24-year-old rookie is making his fifth major-league start with only one quality start among them, and he gave up three runs over three innings before a lengthy rain delay cut short his last outing at Minnesota. Fillmyer doesn’t miss many bats - he has 18 strikeouts across 30 1/3 innings since being called up June 24.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs INF/OF Ben Zobrist, who is 16-for-33 with six doubles, a triple, and two homers in his last nine contests, left Tuesday’s game with tightness in his left hip and is day-to-day

2. Kansas City has a major league-leading 19 stolen bases since the All-Star break.

3. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo has reached base in 12 consecutive games and is batting .320 with six extra-base hits and nine RBIs over that span.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Royals 3