September 20 – The Chicago Cubs will continue their four-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals on Friday afternoon looking to keep their postseason aspirations alive.
The Cubs (78-75) snapped a two-game deficit with a 7-6 victory over the Nationals (68-85) in Thursday’s series opener.
In Chicago’s lineup on Thursday, batters Nos. 1-4 combined to go 10 of 16 with seven runs and five RBIs.
“Certainly, the starting lineup has been excellent,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.
Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson had three hits each, Cody Bellinger drove in three runs and Seiya Suzuki finished with three hits on the season. His two-hit performance was highlighted by a career-high 21st home run.
“Seiya is having a really good season,” Counsell said of Suzuki, who has hit in 10 consecutive games. “He’s really still as good as he was before. Runs really well, swings really well, hits the ball really well. Just tries to get guys on base when he’s out there.”
Still, Chicago is on the brink of being eliminated from the playoffs. The Cubs are seven games out of the final wild-card spot in the National League with nine games remaining.
Given Washington’s position in the standings, there’s no need to worry about that.
However, the Nationals have lost their current four games by 29 points and have given up 33 points in four games against Chicago.
However, Washington welcomed a boost of energy from Joey Gallo in the series opener. The slugger hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning on Thursday, his second deep in the past four games.
Gallo replaced Jacob Young, who exited Thursday’s game because of shoulder soreness after being caught stealing a base in the second inning.
Washington right-hander Trevor Williams (5-0, 2.22 ERA) is expected to be activated from the 60-day disabled list to start Friday’s game. He has been out of action since May 30 with an elbow flexor strain.
Williams’ expected return allows the Nationals to turn to a six-man rotation to finish the season.
“He said he feels good,” Washington head coach Dave Martinez said. “He’s going to get a chance to start and we’re going to get a chance to push these guys back a little bit.”
Williams, 32, returns to the Nationals after making two rehab starts with Harrisburg. He allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out five batters in 7 1/3 innings.
Williams is 4-7 with a 4.73 ERA in 17 career games (13 starts) against the Cubs. Bellinger went 5 for 13 with two home runs off Williams.
Chicago will send right-hander Jameson Taillon (10-8, 3.54) to the mound on Friday afternoon.
Taillon, 32, extended his unbeaten run to four starts after failing to get a decision in his last game. He allowed two runs on five hits in six innings against the Colorado Rockies in Denver on Saturday.
Taillon has a 0–1 record with a 4.38 ERA in seven career starts against the Nationals (all starts).
–Visual-level media
