The Chicago Cubs will look to maintain their flickering postseason aspirations alive on Friday afternoon once they proceed their four-game collection in opposition to the visiting Washington Nationals.
The Cubs (78-75) snapped a modest two-game skid by posting a 7-6 victory over the Nationals (68-85) on Thursday within the collection opener.
The highest of Chicago’s lineup delivered on Thursday, with batters Nos. 1-4 combining to go 10-for-16 with seven runs and 5 RBIs.
“Prime of the lineup did a heck of a job, for certain,” Cubs supervisor Craig Counsell mentioned.
Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson every had three hits, Cody Bellinger drove in three runs, and Seiya Suzuki highlighted his two-hit efficiency along with his career-high twenty first homer of the season.
“Seiya is having a very nice season,” Counsell mentioned of Suzuki, who’s using a 10-game hitting streak. “Proper now’s pretty much as good as he is been for certain. Doing a very nice job, taking good swings, actually good at-bats. Simply making an attempt to get guys on base when he comes up.”
Nonetheless, Chicago is near elimination from postseason competition. The Cubs reside seven video games out of the ultimate wild-card spot within the Nationwide League with 9 video games remaining.
Washington does not have to fret about that given its place within the standings.
The Nationals, nonetheless, have surrendered 29 runs throughout their present four-game shedding skid and yielded 33 runs en path to shedding all 4 video games to this point in opposition to Chicago
Washington, nonetheless, welcomed the ability surge from Joey Gallo within the collection opener. The slugger belted a three-run homer within the sixth inning on Thursday, marking the second time he has gone deep within the final 4 video games.
Gallo stepped up instead of Jacob Younger, who exited Thursday’s sport with shoulder soreness after he was caught in his bid for a stolen base within the second inning.
Washington right-hander Trevor Williams (5-0, 2.22 ERA) is anticipated to be activated from the 60-day injured checklist to start out Friday’s sport. He has been sidelined since Might 30 on account of a flexor pressure in his elbow.
The anticipated return of Williams permits the Nationals to shift to a six-man rotation to complete the season.
“He says he feels good,” Washington supervisor Dave Martinez mentioned. “He’ll get an opportunity to start out, and we’ll get an opportunity to push these guys again somewhat bit.”
Williams, 32, returns to the Nationals after making a pair of rehab begins with Double-A Harrisburg. He allowed two runs on eight hits whereas placing out 5 batters in 7 1/3 innings.
Williams is 4-7 with a 4.73 ERA in 17 profession appearances (13 begins) in opposition to the Cubs. Bellinger is 5-for-13 with two homers off Williams.
Chicago will ship right-hander Jameson Taillon (10-8, 3.54) to the mound on Friday afternoon.
Taillon, 32, prolonged his unbeaten streak to 4 begins after choosing up a no-decision in his final outing. He allowed two runs on 5 hits in six innings in opposition to the Colorado Rockies in Denver on Saturday.
Taillon is 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA in seven profession appearances (all begins) versus the Nationals.
–Discipline Stage Media
