Miami @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2024 ) Chi. Cubs 2, Miami 7
After losing back-to-back series for the first time this season, the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs begin a six-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Monday night.
Colin Rea (2-0, 2.43 ERA) gets the start for the Cubs against fellow right-hander Cal Quantrill (2-3, 7.11) on Monday.
Both starters have struggled against their opponent in the past.
Rea is 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against Miami but will be making his first start in almost a decade versus the Marlins. The other came as a member of the San Diego Padres on June 13, 2016, when he allowed eight runs (six earned) on nine hits over 2 2/3 innings in a 13-4 loss.
Quantrill is 1-3 with an 8.31 ERA in seven career appearances (four starts) against the Cubs while he pitched for San Diego, Cleveland and Colorado between 2019 and 2024.
Chicago comes in after suffering its fourth loss in five games, 6-2 against the host New York Mets on Sunday afternoon.
Francisco Lindor hit a go-ahead home run off reliever Porter Hodge to break a 2-2 tie and start a four-run bottom of the eighth for the Mets. The Cubs managed just three hits in the loss, with one of them being a solo homer by Pete Crow-Armstrong.
"Three hits, it's tough to win games getting three hits," Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. "In the end, not quite enough offense today."
The Cubs did get another quality start from lefty Matthew Boyd, who departed after allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter.
"Matt turned in another very, very good start," Counsell said. "Two runs, six innings, he gave us a chance to win. He continues to pitch very, very well and at a very high level."
Miami moves over to Chicago's North Side after dropping two of three to the White Sox, including a 4-2 loss on Sunday.
Rookie Tim Elko hit his first major league home run in his second game, a three-run shot in the sixth inning, that proved to be the game-winner for the South Siders.
Elko lined a 1-0 slider 381 feet into the left field bleachers to spoil what was otherwise a very positive start for Miami starter Sandy Alcantara.
Alcantara was making his eighth start since missing the entire 2024 season following Tommy John surgery. The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner, expected to be one of the most coveted players available at the July trade deadline, set season highs for maximum velocity (99.9 mph), strikeouts (eight) and pitches (107) over 5 2/3 innings.
"I liked the first five innings," Alcantara said. "Just one bad pitch changed the game. Tried to execute my best slider and it went right down the middle and he just hit it."
Miami manager Clayton McCullough thought the right-hander made "some really outstanding pitches" late in counts.
"The eight strikeouts is a really good sign," McCullough said. "His stuff was ticking up as he was moving on. Velocity was strong throughout. Didn't end well, but, hopefully, some positives to take away from this moving forward."
It was the 11th loss in the last 14 games for the Marlins, who are just 5-12 in road games this season. Only the Colorado Rockies (two) and White Sox (three) have fewer road wins.
--Field Level Media