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Sun-Times
When: 2:20 PM ET, Thursday, July 26, 2018
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
By Gracenote
Despite an offensive outage, the Chicago Cubs still have a chance to salvage a split of their four-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. The first-place Cubs have totaled only four runs in the first three games of the series, and they might need a little more punch from the lineup to beat the Diamondbacks for a second straight game.
Chicago has only four extra-base hits in the series, but the pitching was strong enough Wednesday for the Cubs to claim a 2-1 victory and extend their National League Central lead to 2 1/2 games over Milwaukee. Arizona’s pitching has been outstanding throughout the series, but the offense didn’t do much Wednesday and two critical errors led to the winning run in the eighth inning as the Diamondbacks remained a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. The Cubs are dealing with injuries to two of their star infielders, as third baseman Kris Bryant sat out a second consecutive game Wednesday with a sore shoulder and second baseman Javier Baez was limited to pinch-hitting duties with a bruised knee. Manager Joe Maddon didn’t rule out a disabled list stint for Bryant, and Baez was lifted for a pinch-runner after noticeably limping when he beat out an infield single Wednesday.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Arizona, NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (11-6, 4.65 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Tyler Chatwood (4-5, 4.84)
Godley has won six of his last seven decisions and allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of his last eight starts. The 28-year-old gave up four runs (three earned) in five-plus innings in a no-decision last time out against Colorado, as he hurt himself with four walks. Godley is 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA in three starts against the Cubs, who drafted him in the 10th round in 2013.
Chatwood did a nice tightrope act in his last start, working around six walks to hold the Cardinals to one run over 5 1/3 innings. The 28-year-old has issued at least four free passes in 12 of his 18 starts and leads the majors with 79 walks in 89 1/3 innings. Chatwood is 5-3 with a 4.09 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) against Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt has reached base in 25 consecutive road games and is 11-for-25 with six homers and nine RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak against the Cubs, but he is 3-for-19 with eight strikeouts versus Chatwood.
2. Cubs RHP Brandon Morrow (right biceps inflammation) has not thrown since July 18 and will not be activated when he is eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday.
3. Chicago C Willson Contreras is 16-for-41 in his last 12 home games.
PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Diamondbacks 5