The visiting Chicago Cubs will look to finish a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals on Sunday.
With Saturday’s 5-3 win, Chicago (70-66) has gained 5 straight and eight of 9 to maneuver into competition for a Nationwide League wild-card spot. The Cubs have been 18-8 in August and are 4 video games out of the third wild-card.
“We’ve given ourselves an opportunity to play video games in September that rely and imply one thing,” Chicago supervisor Craig Counsell mentioned. “It took a extremely good month and it is going to take one other nice month.”
Cubs left-hander Jordan Wicks (1-2, 4.18 ERA) is scheduled to pitch the finale in opposition to rookie lefty Mitchell Parker (7-8, 4.26).
Wicks, who has been on the injured checklist, anticipated to make a rehab begin Friday for Triple-A Iowa. He was scratched and can as an alternative begin in opposition to the Nationals because the rosters increase Sunday.
The 24-year-old Wicks exited his begin in opposition to the St. Louis Cardinals on June 14 after 1 2/3 innings with an indirect harm.
Jameson Taillon (9-8, 3.85) was slated to get the beginning however will doubtless be pushed again for Monday’s collection opener in opposition to the Pittsburgh Pirates in Chicago.
Parker went 4 innings in his most up-to-date begin, a 5-2 house loss to the New York Yankees final Monday. He gave up two runs on 5 hits and two walks whereas fanning 5.
Javier Assad pitched six innings, and Nico Hoerner had two hits and scored twice to steer the Cubs previous the Nationals on Saturday.
“I am happy with the resiliency of this group and it has been a protracted highway journey, proper right here enjoying some actually good baseball, successful shut video games in several methods,” Hoerner mentioned. “And we bought an opportunity to comb tomorrow.”
Andres Chaparro homered for Washington and Jose Tena had three hits.
Errors doomed the Nationals (61-75). Along with two fielding errors and an unearned run, baserunning was a problem. Washington bought two hits within the sixth inning, however Tena was out making an attempt to stretch his leadoff single right into a double and CJ Abrams was caught stealing after he singled with one out.
“No person talks concerning the days we steal six bases. It looks like all people talks about once we do not make it,” supervisor Dave Martinez mentioned. “I do know it has been 50-50 right here currently, however we will play aggressive. That is the way in which we play. Typically, we will win that battle. Typically, we will lose that battle.”
The Nationals put two males on within the ninth, however Dylan Crews and James Wooden struck out to finish it as Washington stranded eight runners on base.
“Some pitches I be ok with the takes, and too many tonight that have been excellent pitches to hit that I did not hearth on,” Wooden mentioned after placing out 4 instances. “Simply study from it, and once I get a very good pitch tomorrow, I will be prepared for it.”
In response to MLB.com, infielder/outfielder Darren Baker will probably be considered one of Washington’s September call-ups. The son of former Nationals and Cubs supervisor Dusty Baker, Darren, 25, was chosen by Washington within the tenth spherical of the 2021 Draft.
He’s hitting .285 with 20 doubles, two triples, 49 RBIs, 70 runs and 38 stolen bases in 112 video games with Triple-A Rochester.
Proper-hander Shawn Armstrong (3-2, 4.85 ERA), claimed off waivers from the Cardinals on Friday, was added to the lively Chicago roster.
–Discipline Degree Media
