LEADING OFF: Cubs-Brewers in prime time

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

CENTRAL CONFLICT

The Cubs and Brewers conclude a three-game series in prime time following Chicago’s 15-inning, 2-1 win Saturday. Milwaukee righty Jhoulys Chacin will make his first start at Wrigley Field since last year’s NL Central tiebreaker, when he dominated in a 3-1 victory that gave the Brewers their first division title since 2011. Jon Lester is up for the Cubs. He’s allowed three runs – one earned – over 18 innings in three starts since returning from a strained left hamstring.

ATHLETIC FEATS

Oakland is set to finish up a most memorable homestand against Cleveland. The A’s have gotten walkoff hits in consecutive games against the Indians, giving them three in a five-day span that also included Mike Fiers’ no-hitter against Cincinnati. Oakland got some help with Saturday’s game-ender – Cleveland right fielder Jordan Luplow slipped trying to catch Ramon Laureano’s ninth-inning bloop, allowing Matt Olson to score from third. A’s manager Bob Melvin expects to get DH Khris Davis back in the lineup after he missed three games with a bruised left hip.

SPLIT OUT OF LUCK

Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (2-3, 3.77) takes on AL East-leading Tampa Bay still searching for his go-to splitfinger fastball. Tanaka nearly abandoned the pitch in his previous start against Seattle, and its ineffectiveness is part of why he’s allowed a homer in six straight starts, the second longest such streak in his career following an eight-game run in 2015. Rays left-hander Blake Snell (3-3, 3.62) is coming off his best outing of the season, throwing six scoreless innings of one-hit ball against Arizona last Monday.

NO ALTUVE, NO PROBLEM

Houston has won the first two games of its series against the Rangers without star Jose Altuve, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday after straining his left hamstring in the first inning Friday. Aledmys Diaz has filled in well, hitting a grand slam during an 11-4 win Saturday. The Astros are calling up right-hander Corbin Martin to make his major league debut in place of Collin McHugh, who was bumped to the bullpen after a quartet of lousy starts.

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