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The Cubs (69-41) boast the top record in baseball, including
a major league-best 11-4 interleague mark, and own a
double-digit lead in the National League Central while
possessing the lowest ERA in the game at 3.15. "Right now
everything is going good," Chicago's Kris Bryant told reporters
after belting his 27th home run Sunday, exceeding the 26 he hit
in his 2015 rookie season. "It feels like we can win every game
out there. The off days have been huge, to help get our minds
right a little bit." Los Angeles (49-62) has lost four straight,
including the first three of its nine-game road trip - all
two-run decisions in Seattle. The Cubs' John Lackey and Angels'
Jered Weaver - Tuesday's starters - were Los Angeles teammates
during Weaver's first four major league seasons (2006-09) with
Lackey serving as his mentor.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jered Weaver (8-8, 5.11 ERA) vs.
Cubs RH John Lackey (8-7, 3.70)
Weaver earned a no-decision after allowing four runs (three
earned) and nine hits in six innings of Los Angeles' 8-6 victory
over Oakland on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Californian, who is
4-4 with a 5.03 ERA in nine road starts this season, is on pace
to record his highest career WHIP (1.45) and fewest strikeouts
per nine innings (4.7). Weaver is 1-0 with an 0.69 ERA in two
starts (13 innings) versus the Cubs - last facing them when
receiving a no-decision in 2013 - and has significant experience
only against Ben Zobrist (8-for-27, homer, three doubles, six
strikeouts).
Lackey received a no-decision in his third straight quality
start after yielding three runs and seven hits while striking
out eight in seven innings of the Cubs' 5-4 victory over Miami
on Wednesday. The 37-year-old Texan, who pitched for Los Angeles
in his first eight seasons, is 5-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 11 home
starts this year. Lackey is 4-2 with a 4.02 ERA versus his
former team and has trouble with Yuniel Escobar (11-for-30), who
might not play Tuesday because of a sore left knee.
WALK-OFFS
1. Zobrist (.279) is hitting .353 with five doubles and nine
RBIs in his last 14 games.
2. Los Angeles DH/1B Albert Pujols, who is 11th on the career
run list with 581 (21 this season), has belted 56 against
Chicago - his most against any team.
3. Cubs LF Jorge Soler went 4-for-12 with two homers, five RBIs
and three runs in the Oakland series - his first action since
June 6 because of a hamstring injury.
PREDICTION: Cubs 3, Angels 2
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