Can Cubs cool off Nationals’ Murphy?
Even those enamored with the Cubs’ runaway freight train of a team figured that this week, featuring tests against multiple upper-echelon foes, would produce a slip-up or two.
Eh, not so much.
Chicago reeled off its fifth win in a row, yesterday, 8-6, setting the stage for this afternoon’s second of a three-game set vs. Washington. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI aren’t wavering in their support of the home squad, installing Joe Maddon’s crew as a 1.5-run favorite. The over/under total holds steady at seven runs.
After sweeping Pittsburgh in the most emphatic of ways, the Cubbies received a slightly stiffer challenge from the Nats last night. Ben Zobrist homered twice off Max Scherzer, though, paving the way for the NL Central leaders to claim yet another triumph at Wrigley Field. Besides Zobrist, Anthony Rizzo and Tommy La Stella also cranked dingers.
Washington’s Gio Gonzalez has been susceptible to the long ball in recent seasons, but his 2016 body of work absolutely pops. The southpaw trails only Jake Arrieta for the NL ERA lead and boasts four starts in which he’s yielded one earned run or less. Most recently, Gonzalez held Kansas City to four hits in six innings of a 2-0 victory.
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Jason Hammel, however, could hold the trump card. Chicago’s hurler owns wins in eight straight assignments vs. the Nationals and is 9-0 with a 3.01 ERA in 11 career meetings with the franchise. Last June, he flummoxed Bryce Harper and company for eight strong frames.
The most intriguing matchup to monitor beginning at 4:05 p.m. ET arguably involves Hammel and the Nationals’ ridiculous second baseman. Daniel Murphy’s batting an MLB-leading .406 with four bombs and 17 RBIs. Should Hammel neutralize the darling of the 2015 playoffs, look for the Cubs to keep rolling.
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