LA ANGELS vs CHICAGO CUBS
GAME: Los Angeles Angels (29-30) at Chicago Cubs (31-26)
DATE/TIME: Monday, June 03 – 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), WGN (Chicago)
LINE: -160
PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Angels 2

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO CUBS listed as -160 point favorites versus the LA ANGELS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Chicago Cubs hope to halt their freefall when they host the surging Los Angeles Angels on Monday afternoon for an interleague contest, which is a makeup for the game on April 14 that was postponed due to snow. The Cubs, who have lost six of their last seven, were swept in three games over the weekend at St. Louis after a 2-1 setback Sunday to fall out of first place in the National League Central.

Chicago managed just three hits – failing to score until the ninth inning – on Sunday and totaled just six runs in the series at St. Louis to drop 1 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the division, but plays the next seven games at home where it is 18-10. Veteran lefty Jon Lester looks to rebound from a rough stretch at the end of May when he takes the mound for the Cubs on Monday and the Angels counter with right-hander Trevor Cahill, who is also hoping to turn things around after an uneven month. Los Angeles can climb back to the .500 mark with a victory after winning seven of its last nine contests, including Sunday’s 13-3 triumph at Seattle, and will play nine in a row at home following the one-game set in the Windy City. David Fletcher had two doubles and a single Sunday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games (21-for-49) while slugger Albert Pujols homered for the second straight day and is one blast from recording 200 in each league.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Trevor Cahill (2-5, 6.92 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (3-4, 3.59)

Cahill hopes to change his fortunes in June after a rough month of May in which he went 1-3 with an 8.22 ERA in five starts across 23 innings. The 31-year-old California native, who has served up 16 homers in 11 starts, allowed six runs on six hits across 4 1/3 innings in a loss at Oakland on Monday. Jason Heyward is 5-for-10 with a homer versus Cahill, who is 3-1 with a 4.00 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Cubs.

Lester was rolling along with a 1.16 ERA before struggling mightily in his last three starts while allowing 19 runs (16 earned) across 14 innings combined. The 35-year-old Washington native served up four homers in those three starts after surrendering three in his first 10 outings. Pujols is 5-for-15 with two doubles against Lester, who is 5-4 with a 3.69 ERA in 12 career starts versus the Angels and 26-15 in interleague play.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles CF Mike Trout is 8-for-14 with a pair of homers and seven RBIs in his last four contests.

2. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo saw his 13-game hitting streak end on Sunday, but is 22-for-53 with 14 RBIs in the past 14 contests.

3. Angels LF Cesar Puello is 9-for-19 with two homers and six RBIs in four games since being recalled.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Angels 2

The post LA ANGELS vs. CHICAGO CUBS 6/3/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

CHICAGO CUBS vs HOUSTON
GAME: Chicago Cubs (30-22) at Houston Astros (36-19)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ABC 7 (Chicago), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
LINE: -130
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Astros 2

Oddsmakers currently have the HOUSTON listed as -130 point favorites versus the CHICAGO CUBS, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

The Chicago Cubs and ace Jon Lester hope to regain their top form when they visit the red-hot Houston Astros on Tuesday for the second contest of their three-game interleague series. Lester was roughed up in each of his last two starts while the National League Central-leading Cubs have dropped four of their last five contests after Monday’s 6-5 setback.

Chicago’s Kris Bryant (neck) and Jason Heyward (hip) both sat out the series opener after their collision in Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati, but Anthony Rizzo extended his hitting streak to nine games (17-for-35) with a two-run homer in the first inning. Lester goes after his fourth win of the season and third on the road when he takes the mound on Tuesday while the Astros will counter with rookie Corbin Martin, who is slated to make his fourth major-league start. American League West-leading Houston improved to 21-7 at home with Monday’s victory as it scored five times in the third inning and held on for its 15th win in 19 contests. Slugger George Springer (hamstring) is out, but Carlos Correa (4-for-7, two RBIs in last two games) should be back in the lineup after being rested Monday and former MVP Jose Altuve (hamstring) could return soon following a rehab assignment.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (3-3, 2.68 ERA) vs. Astros RH Corbin Martin (1-1, 4.97)

Lester’s struggles have followed a dominant start to the season during which he allowed just five earned runs over his first seven starts. The 35-year-old yielded 12 runs – nine earned – and 17 hits (three homers) in 8 1/3 innings to lose outings against Washington and Philadelphia. Michael Brantley is 8-for-24 with two doubles versus Lester, who is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against the Astros.

Martin has completed more than four innings just once in his first three starts, giving up a homer in each outing. The 23-year-old native of Houston won his debut against Texas after allowing two runs in 5 1/3 frames but has given up seven over 7 1/3 innings in his last two turns. Martin, a second-round pick in the 2017 draft, will face the Cubs for the first time after losing to the Chicago White Sox last time out.

WALK-OFFS

1. Houston placed INF Aledmys Diaz (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list and purchased the contract of 28-year-old 2B Jack Mayfield, who recorded an RBI double in his major-league debut on Monday, from Triple-A Round Rock.

2. Cubs SS Addison Russell homered among his three hits on Monday and is 7-for-12 with two blasts and three RBIs at MInute Maid Park.

3. The Astros are 13-5 against left-handed starting pitchers this year and own a major league-best 56-25 record in interleague play since the start of the 2015 season.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Astros 2

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CHICAGO CUBS vs HOUSTON
GAME: Chicago Cubs (30-21) at Houston Astros (35-19)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 27 – 2:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
LINE: -185
PREDICTION: Astros 4, Cubs 3

Oddsmakers currently have the HOUSTON listed as -185 point favorites versus the CHICAGO CUBS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.

A pair of division leaders whose weekends ended with a whimper meet on Monday afternoon, when the Houston Astros host the opener of their three-game interleague series against the Chicago Cubs. Houston registered a pair of one-run wins to begin its weekend series with Boston before falling 4-1 on Sunday.

In their first game since placing American League home-run leader George Springer (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list, the Astros managed four hits while committing a pair of errors and falling to 4-3 on their 10-game homestand. The Cubs dropped two of three to Cincinnati at home over the weekend, a series capped by a 10-2 setback on Sunday in which they also lost a key bat as Kris Bryant departed following a collision in the outfield. Chicago manager Joe Maddon told reporters that Bryant, who has belted nine home runs this month, was being evaluated for an injury in the head and neck area, and that the team would have an update prior to the series in Houston. Cole Hamels will try to bounce back from his shortest start of the season when he takes the mound for the Cubs in the opener opposite Gerrit Cole.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Cole Hamels (4-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. Astros RH Gerrit Cole (4-5, 4.11)

Hamels remained unbeaten despite giving up four runs and a season-high nine hits in four innings against Philadelphia on Wednesday. It marked the fourth time in six outings the 35-year-old failed to record a quality start. He is 5-2 lifetime at Minute Maid Park and has dominated Houston’s Carlos Correa, who is 2-for-21 with seven strikeouts against Hamels.

Cole was the first pitcher in the majors to reach 100 strikeouts this season after registering seven over five innings in his last outing, but he was hit hard while surrendering six runs. The UCLA product owns a 4.60 ERA in five home starts this year after posting a 2.99 mark in 2018. Cole saw plenty of the Cubs during his time in the National League Central with Pittsburgh and is 9-3 with a 2.50 ERA against them.

WALK-OFFS

1. Houston’s Max Stassi (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday while fellow C Garrett Stubbs was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock.

2. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo has gone 15-for-32 during his eight-game hitting streak.

3. The teams have met twice since Houston moved to the AL, with Chicago taking two of three in both series.

PREDICTION: Astros 4, Cubs 3

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PHILADELPHIA vs CHICAGO CUBS
GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (28-20) at Chicago Cubs (28-18)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 22 – 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Philadelphia, NBCS Chicago
LINE: -140
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Phillies 1

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO CUBS listed as -140 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Philadelphia Phillies will encounter a familiar face on the mound Wednesday, when they play the third contest of their four-game series against the host Chicago Cubs. Cole Hamels, who earned the 2008 World Series Most Valuable Player honors with the Phillies, will square off against the club for the first time in his career.

Javier Baez slapped the game-winning single in Tuesday’s 3-2 triumph for Chicago, which has alternated losses and wins over the last six games as it clings to first place in the NL Central. Kris Bryant answered an 0-for-5 performance in Monday’s 5-4 setback by reaching base four times (three hits, one walk) and scoring two runs, including the tying one in the ninth inning. Philadelphia’s Jean Segura doubled in the opening frame to extend his hitting streak to 12 games while Cesar Hernandez has gone 9-for-20 with three doubles and a triple in his last five contests. Andrew McCutchen, who recorded a two-run single in the seventh inning on Tuesday, is 8-for-27 against Hamels while fellow former NL MVP Bryce Harper is 8-for-34.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cole Irvin (2-0, 2.77 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Cole Hamels (4-0 3.13)

Irvin followed his impressive major-league debut with his second win in as many starts, permitting four runs – three earned – and five hits in six innings of a 5-4 victory versus Colorado. The 25-year-old helped himself at the plate by working a 10-pitch walk in his first big-league at-bat, setting up McCutchen’s two-run homer. Irvin, however, did himself no favors with a pair of fielding errors in the second inning, leading to the Rockies scoring the first run of the game.

Hamels posted a 114-90 record with Philadelphia from 2006-15 before being traded to Texas in July 2015. The 35-year-old snapped a string of four straight no-decisions on Friday after allowing two runs in five innings of a 14-6 victory at Washington. The Cubs own a 7-2 mark in games started by Hamels despite the hurler surrendering a homer in seven of those outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia 1B Rhys Hoskins is 1-for-20 in his last six games.

2. Chicago C Willson Contreras is 8-for-20 with five RBIs over his last five contests.

3. Phillies 3B Maikel Franco has notched a hit and scored a run in each of his last three games.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Phillies 1

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PHILADELPHIA vs CHICAGO CUBS
GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (28-19) at Chicago Cubs (27-18)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 21 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Philadelphia, WGN (Chicago)
LINE: -135
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Phillies 2

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO CUBS listed as -135 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at 7.5.

J.T. Realmuto played significant roles both offensively and defensively to help the Philadelphia Phillies win the opener of their four-game series against the Chicago Cubs. Victorious in four in a row and 15 of their last 22, the National League East-leading Phillies aim to continue their good fortune on Tuesday against the NL Central-best Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Realmuto had an RBI single in the sixth inning before going deep for the second straight game with a solo homer in the 10th of Philadelphia’s 5-4 win on Monday. Jean Segura extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI single in the ninth inning, although his ill-advised decision to try for second ended the threat. Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo highlighted his three-hit performance with an RBI single, although he was denied of scoring a run after Realmuto made a sweeping tag following a throw from Bryce Harper. Albert Almora Jr., who collected a pair of hits in the opener, is 9-for-20 with a pair of homers and six runs scored in his last six contests.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Zach Eflin (5-4, 2.89 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (4-3, 3.68)

Eflin saw his three-start winning streak come to a halt last Thursday after allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings of an 11-3 setback versus Milwaukee. Despite the loss, the 25-year-old Eflin is sporting a 1.80 ERA in his last four starts (30 innings) and has yielded just 22 hits in that stretch. Eflin owns a 1-1 mark with a 3.20 ERA in three career starts versus Chicago, with Kris Bryant (6-for-10) enjoying considerable success against him.

Quintana answered a 4-0 mark in five outings by sustaining his second straight setback last Thursday after permitting three runs on six hits over five innings of a 4-2 setback at Cincinnati. The 30-year-old has been taken deep in back-to-back outings after keeping the ball in the park in five of his previous seven. Andrew McCutchen (5-for-13), Sean Rodriguez (4-for-10) and Cesar Hernandez (3-for-7, four RBIs) have fared well versus Quintana, who is 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA in four career starts against Philadelphia.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago C Willson Contreras is 7-for-15 with four RBIs over his last four contests.

2. Hernandez is 8-for-16 with three doubles and a triple during his four-game hitting streak.

3. Bryant is 1-for-12 in his last three contests after erupting for four hits, five RBIs and three runs scored in Friday’s 14-6 win at Washington.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Phillies 2

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PHILADELPHIA vs CHICAGO CUBS
GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (27-19) at Chicago Cubs (27-17)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 20 – 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Philadelphia, NBCS Chicago
LINE: -130
PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Cubs 2

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO CUBS listed as -130 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Philadelphia Phillies rebounded from a three-game losing streak with three straight wins and their highest-paid player is on the upswing as they visit the Chicago Cubs on Monday for the opener of a four-game series between division leaders. Bryce Harper went 5-for-12 to push his batting average to .235, recording two two doubles, two homers and six RBIs as the Phillies swept a three-game set from Colorado over the weekend.

“He has the ability to transcend the game,” Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler told reporters of Harper, who signed a 13-year, $330 million contract in the offseason. “When he’s on, he’s just so captivating and so charismatic. The work that he does to get back where he got today is notable. It doesn’t happen by accident. He puts a lot of work into it.” Jake Arrieta takes a 30-14 record and 2.31 ERA in 59 games at Wrigley Field into his first matchup with his former team, while the Cubs counter with the struggling Yu Darvish. Chicago improved to 10-1-1 in its last 12 series with a 6-5 victory at Washington on Sunday as Anthony Rizzo belted a solo homer while Kris Bryant knocked in his sixth run in three contests. Willson Contreras is 7-for-15 with four RBIs over his last four games for the Cubs while Albert Almora Jr. is 7-for-16 with a pair of homers and six runs scored in his last five contests.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (4-4, 4.02 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Yu Darvish (2-3, 5.14)

Arrieta looks to end his three-game winless streak after giving up nine runs – eight earned – over 11 innings in his last two outings – both losses. The 33-year-old TCU product, who won the National League Cy Young Award with the Cubs in 2015, served up a season-high three homers at Kansas City on May 10 before keeping the ball in the park against Milwaukee on Wednesday, when he permitted five runs over six frames. Jason Heyward is 6-for-18 with a homer versus Arrieta.

Darvish struck out a season-high 11 batters while allowing two runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati on Wednesday. The 32-year-old native of Japan, who is 0-1 with a 6.38 ERA at home this season, did not issue a walk in his last outing after handing out 22 free passes over his previous five turns. Odubel Herrera is 3-for-6 with a double against Darvish, who is 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two career games versus the Phillies.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago SS Javier Baez (.319, 11 homers, 31 RBIs) left Sunday’s game with a heel contusion.

2. Philadelphia SS Jean Segura has hit safely in 10 straight contests, going 15-for-41 during that stretch.

3. Heyward recorded two hits and scored twice on Sunday after going 2-for-35 over his previous eight games.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Cubs 2

The post PHILADELPHIA vs. CHICAGO CUBS 5/20/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

CHICAGO CUBS vs WASHINGTON
GAME: Chicago Cubs (25-16) at Washington Nationals (18-25)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 17 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WGN (Chicago), MASN (Washington)
LINE: -135
PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Nationals 3

Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as -135 point favorites versus the CHICAGO CUBS, while the game’s total is sitting at 7.5.

The Washington Nationals will try to build upon their first series win in a month when they begin a three-game set with the visiting Chicago Cubs on Friday. After dropping the opener of a series against the New York Mets to begin their six-game homestand, the Nationals recovered with back-to-back victories for the first time since April 17-18.

Gerardo Parra had a two-run homer, an RBI double and a single in three at-bats during Thursday’s 7-6 win over the Mets. While Washington has a rare series win in its pocket, the Cubs experienced their first series loss since April 5-7 by dropping two of three at Cincinnati, capped by a 4-2 setback in Thursday’s finale. The opener in the nation’s capital features a stellar pitching matchup between Cubs lefty Cole Hamels and three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer for the Nationals. Hamels owns a 2.67 ERA in 37 career starts against Washington, while Scherzer went 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA versus Chicago between 2017 and 2018.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Cole Hamels (3-0, 3.08 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (2-4, 3.64)

Since allowing five runs in his season debut, Hamels has posted a 2.42 ERA in a span of seven starts. He limited Milwaukee to a run and three hits over seven innings on Saturday in his fourth straight no-decision. Catcher Kurt Suzuki (5-for-13, double) is one of the few Washington hitters to find some success against the 35-year-old Hamels.

Scherzer has a 2.67 ERA over his last four starts but just one win to show for it, which came Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Missouri native entered Thursday leading the National League in strikeouts with 79, and he has walked only seven batters over the past eight starts. The 34-year-old is 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA in eight career matchups with the Cubs.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals SS Trea Turner (finger) could be activated from the injured list Friday.

2. Parra has two homers, two doubles and seven RBIs in five games since signing with Washington last week.

3. Cubs SS Javier Baez had two hits in Thursday’s loss to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.

PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Nationals 3

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CHICAGO CUBS vs CINCINNATI
GAME: Chicago Cubs (25-15) at Cincinnati Reds (19-24)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 16 – 6:40 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Chicago, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
LINE: -120
PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Reds 3

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as -120 point favorites versus the CHICAGO CUBS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Cincinnati Reds look to build off a big comeback victory when they send ace Luis Castillo to the mound for the rubber match of a three-game set with the visiting Chicago Cubs on Thursday night. Eugenio Suarez tied the game with a two-run homer in the eighth inning and Yasiel Puig’s walk-off RBI single in the 10th gave Cincinnati a 6-5 victory Wednesday – its fourth triumph in the last six games.

Castillo, who went 10-12 in 2018, earned National League Pitcher of the Month for March/April after going 3-1 with a 1.45 ERA in seven starts and is unbeaten in two trips to the mound in May while serving up just three homers in 56 1/3 innings overall this year. Castillo will face an NL Central-leading Chicago team that lost for just the third time in 16 games Wednesday, owns a 52-26 record against the Reds since 2015 and is unbeaten in its last 10 series (9-0-1). The Cubs will send left-hander Jose Quintana, who was also 3-1 in March and April, to the mound in search of another series victory after he suffered his second loss of the season last Friday against Milwaukee. Javier Baez singled in the 10th inning Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to 13 games (20-for-55) for Chicago while teammate Kris Bryant has reached base in a career-high 24 straight contests after going 1-for-5 with a base hit in the 10th.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jose Quintana (4-2, 3.50 ERA) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (4-1, 1.76)

Quintana saw his four-game winning streak come to an end last Friday after allowing three runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings of a 7-0 loss to the Brewers. The 30-year-old Colombia native has recorded five quality starts in his last six trips to the mound and boasts 46 strikeouts across 46 1/3 innings overall. Joey Votto is 7-for-14 with four doubles in his career versus Quintana, who was 2-2 with a 3.27 ERA in four starts against the Reds last season.

Castillo has gone seven starts without a loss and limited San Francisco to two hits over six scoreless frames with a season-high 11 strikeouts last time out. The 26-year-old Dominican entered Wednesday third in the NL with 70 strikeouts and first in opponents batting average (.168). Daniel Descalso and Kyle Schwarber have each belted two homers against Castillo, who was 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA in five starts versus the Cubs in 2018.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo (back) missed his third straight game Wednesday, but could return for the weekend series at Washington.

2. Cincinnati SS Jose Iglesias had two hits along with two RBIs on Wednesday and is 8-for-24 during his current six-game hitting streak.

3. Schwarber homered for the first time in May on Wednesday and snapped a six-game RBI drought in which he was 2-for-17.

PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Reds 3

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CHICAGO CUBS vs CINCINNATI
GAME: Chicago Cubs (24-14) at Cincinnati Reds (18-23)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 14 – 6:40 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
LINE: 110
PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Reds 4

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as 110 point favorites versus the CHICAGO CUBS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Chicago Cubs have not lost a series in more than a month, and now they hope to feast on the last-place Cincinnati Reds. The National League Central rivals begin a three-game set in Cincinnati on Tuesday.

The Cubs haven’t dropped a set since losing two of three at Milwaukee from April 5-7, and they’re coming off a key series victory over the Brewers that extended Chicago’s division lead to two games. The Cubs have won five of their last six games and 12 of their last 14. The Reds had a three-game win streak snapped with a 6-5 loss at San Francisco on Sunday. Despite outscoring opponents by 30 runs, Cincinnati is five games below .500 in large part because of a 6-13 mark in one-run games.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (2-4, 3.19 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tanner Roark (3-1, 3.27)

Hendricks has been outstanding in his last two starts, allowing one unearned run over 17 innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks. The 29-year-old has been efficient – after an 81-pitch shutout against St. Louis on May 3, he needed only 96 pitches to get through eight innings Wednesday against Miami. Hendricks is 5-2 with a 3.45 ERA in 13 starts against the Reds, but he has been tagged for 23 runs (22 earned) in 34 1/3 innings across six starts in Cincinnati.

Roark has posted quality starts in each of his last two outings, winning both. The 32-year-old threw six shutout innings last time out at Oakland after limiting San Francisco to two runs over 6 2/3 innings in his previous turn. Roark, an Illinois native, is 5-2 with a 3.77 ERA in eight games (seven starts) against the Cubs.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs SS Javier Baez is 17-for-45 with seven doubles and two homers during an 11-game hitting streak.

2. Reds 3B Eugenio Suarez is 10-for-23 with two homers during a five-game hitting streak and has hit safely in eight of his last nine games.

3. Cincinnati OF Nick Senzel has hit safely in seven of his first 10 major-league games, including three multi-hit efforts.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Reds 4

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MILWAUKEE vs CHICAGO CUBS
GAME: Milwaukee Brewers (24-17) at Chicago Cubs (23-14)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 12 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 7:05 PM
LINE: -135
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Brewers 3

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO CUBS listed as -135 point favorites versus the MILWAUKEE, while the game’s total is sitting at .

After a marathon win, the Chicago Cubs are back on top in the National League Central, but the Milwaukee Brewers would like to rejoin them. The Cubs evened the series and reclaimed a one-game lead over the Brewers with a 2-1 win in 15 innings Saturday, and they’ll try to extend their division lead when Milwaukee visits Sunday night for the finale.

Willson Contreras blasted a walk-off homer in the 15th inning Saturday to give the Cubs their third win by walk-off homer in their last five games. Chicago has won 11 of its last 13 and has not lost a series since dropping two of three at Milwaukee from April 5-7. The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Brewers, who managed only four hits and grounded into six double plays in the marathon. Both teams’ bullpens were taxed Saturday, as the Cubs used seven relievers and the Brewers used six.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (3-3, 5.03 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (2-1, 1.41)

Chacin has had a couple of rocky outings this season, but his last two starts have been solid. The 31-year-old allowed two runs over five innings in a no-decision Monday against Washington after tossing six scoreless frames in his previous start. Chacin is 4-6 with a 2.86 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) against the Cubs.

Lester has been outstanding in three starts since returning from the injured list, allowing three runs (one earned) over 18 innings with 19 strikeouts. The 35-year-old has not allowed more than two runs in a start this season. Lester is 4-3 with a 2.66 ERA in eight starts against Milwaukee.

WALK-OFFS

1. Contreras (15-for-41, four homers) and Cubs SS Javier Baez (15-for-42, two homers) are riding 10-game hitting streaks.

2. Brewers LF Ryan Braun (hamstring) was a late scratch from the lineup Saturday but hopes to return to the lineup Sunday.

3. Cubs INF Daniel Descalso (ankle) was limited to pinch-hitting for the seventh consecutive game Saturday, but he is expected to be back in the starting lineup Sunday.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Brewers 3

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