A pair of National League teams finish up their first post All-Star break series on the diamond in the City of Brotherly Love. The Chicago Cubs are on the road as they play the final game of a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies Sunday afternoon. In the opening game of the series, Chicago’s bats woke up from an extended slumber and rolled to a 15-2 victory to draw first blood. Which team gets the upper hand on getaway day to leave town on a positive note? This article was published prior to the conclusion of the middle game of the set Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Maybe the All-Star break did the Cubs some good as they piled up 15 runs, which was more than they scored in their final six contests before the break (10) combined. The Cubs entered Saturday fourth in the NL Central, 14.5 games behind the Brewers for the top spot in the division race. On Friday, Chicago rapped out 19 hits with Seiya Suzuki (two runs, two RBI) and Ian Happ (run, two RBI) each recording four while Christopher Morel (three runs, RBI) added three. Nelson Velasquez (his third and fourth) homered twice after entering the game in the eighth inning while Willson Contreras (his 14th) and Suzuki (his seventh) each went deep as well for the Cubs. Justin Steele (4-6) earned the win on the mound as he allowed one run on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts over five innings of work.
Drew Smyly takes the mound for the Cubs on getaway day as he makes his 12th start o f the season in this contest. He comes in 2-5 with a 4.22 ERA, a 1.347 WHIP, 12 walks and 39 strikeouts over 49 innings of work on the year. Smyly didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came in the second game of a doubleheader against the Mets at home last Saturday. He threw 4.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts in a game the Cubs lost 4-3 in 10 innings. In his last three starts, Smyly has no record with a 4.82 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, three walks and eight strikeouts over 9.1 innings of action. Smyly makes his fifth career appearance and fourth start against the Phillies here. He has no record, a 4.40 ERA, a 1.326 WHIP, six walks and seven strikeouts over 14.1 innings of work against them. Smyly is 1-1 with a 4.89 ERA, a 1.343 WHIP, 11 walks and 31 strikeouts over 35 innings in seven career starts at Citizens Bank Park.