Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Now, it’s time to go for their first sweep of the season.
It’s been four years since the Cubs accomplished that feat. With their most consistent starter on the mound, Jason Hammel (4-1, 2.08) they’ve got a shot. Hitters are only hitting .144 off of Hammel this season.
It’s been nearly eight years since they swept the Cards at Wrigley Field.
In order to stretch their season-high win streak to four, the Cubs will have to beat Lance Lynn (4-1, 3.60), who will take the mound for the Cardinals. Cubs’ shortstop, Starlin Castro has been hot recently, hitting .500 in his last five games while driving in five runs. He is a career .370 hitter against the Cardinal right-hander. Lynn is 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in his career at Wrigley Field – a trend the Cubs hope to continue.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo is 4-for-7, while scoring six runs over the last three games – and has gone deep in each of the first two games of this series, as well as each of the last three games total.
The game will be on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” and will have announcers Dan Shulman and John Kruk calling the game from the right-field bleachers. It will also be throwback uniform night – the Cubs will wear replica’s of uniforms celebrating the Cubs’ 1929 pennant-winning season. Shulman and Kruk will sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”, as well. Will John Kruk outdo Mike Ditka’s epic performance?
WGN radio AM 720 will broadcast the game, as well. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm CST.