An intriguing interleague series is on tap this coming Tuesday night, as the Chicago Cubs (30-25) pay the Detroit Tigers (30-28)a visit for a brief two-game set at Comerica Park. Both teams are trying to stretch their win streak to three games, but only one will see their winning ways continue in the series opener.
Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles begin their own series at Camden Yards on Tuesday, too. You can read a full preview of that game here.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Things are not going Jon Lester’s way of late. The lefty’s search for his first win since mid-May continues on Tuesday, as he takes the hill for the start of a two-game set against Detroit. The Cubs are 3-1 in their last four road games.
Over his last three starts, Lester has gone 0-2 with a 4.26 ERA. That stretch includes the Cubs’ 7-3 loss at the hands of Miami on June 3, wherein Lester gave up six earned runs on nine hits in just five innings. With Lester struggling on the mound, there should be an added pressure to the Cubs’ hitters to deliver at the plate against Detroit.
The Cubs did that just that in their previous series against Washington, when they outscored the Nats 17-13 in four games. Among the Cubs’ best hitters is Anthony Rizzo, who averaged .423/.516/.846 over his last seven games. He’s a .333 lifetime hitter against Anibal Sanchez, albeit in limited at-bats (2-for-6).
Dexter Fowler, meanwhile, is on a four-game hit streak, going 6-for-17 during that stretch. The Cubs’ middle-of-the-lineup hitters, however, will have to do a better job driving in runs, as evidenced by their .223 batting average when players are in scoring position.
After winning back-to-back games to end a three-game series against the White Sox, the Tigers will look to slay another Chicago team in the form of the Cubs in Comerica Park this coming Tuesday. Detroit is 4-0 in its last four home games against the North Siders.
On the mound for the Tigers in the series opener is Anibal Sanchez, who like Lester, is in a funk right now. Sanchez (3-7, 5.69 ERA) hasn’t won since the second week of May, collecting a 0-3 record and an ugly 9.94 ERA over his last four starts. In his most recent outing, Sanchez allowed four earned runs on five hits in the Tigers’ 6-1 loss to Oakland on June 3. Sanchez’ continuing mound troubles leave Detroit hoping that its offense will pick up the slack in Game 1 of the Cubs series.
The Tigers’ power may give Lester fits, as the Cubs pitcher has been susceptible to giving up homers this season. Take for example Miguel Cabrera, who is batting .522 (12-for-23) with four doubles and a homer in his career against Lester. Rajai Davis, meanwhile, is 12-for-41 (.293) with a homer and six RBIs in the same matchup.
Detroit is third in the league in batting average (.271) and second in on base percentage (.335) in the majors thus far this season.
