2:20 pm
April 13

Angels @ Cubs

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Angels (7-7)

@ Chicago Cubs (5-8)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Stratton (LAA): 0-1; 6.48 ERA

Hendricks (CHC) 0-2; 6.48 ERA

 

Last 10 Games Played:

Los Angeles Angels: 6-4

Chicago Cubs: 4-6

 

Current odds:

Los Angeles Angels: (+180)

Chicago Cubs: (-200)

 

• After a rough start to the season, the Chicago Cubs seem to be rounding into form. The Cubs will try to clinch their second consecutive series victory when they host the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday afternoon for the middle contest of their three-game set. Chicago’s pitching staff – particularly its bullpen – was hammered during a 1-6 start, but the team has allowed fewer than two runs in three of its last four contests, including a 5-1 win in the series opener. Cole Hamels cooled off an Angels team that entered with a six-game winning streak but managed only four hits on Friday.

• Two of those came from aging star Albert Pujols, who hit his 29th career home run at Wrigley Field. Chicago’s Willson Contreras continued his red-hot start with two home runs – his fourth and fifth of the season – while Anthony Rizzo and David Bote also went deep in the victory.

• Stratton didn’t make it out of the fifth inning in his first two starts and failed to record an out in the frame last time out. The 28-year-old allowed Texas’ first three batters to reach in the fifth on Sunday, but the bullpen got him off the hook, so he was charged with only two runs over four-plus innings. Stratton faced the Cubs at Wrigley Field last season while with San Francisco and allowed three runs over five frames in a win.

• Hendricks was not sharp in his first two outings of the campaign, failing to get through five innings in each. The 29-year-old was hurt by sloppy defense in his season debut and gave up four runs over four innings in Sunday’s loss at Milwaukee. After opening with two road starts, Hendricks will be happy to take the mound at Wrigley, where he is 26-16 with a 2.74 ERA in his career.

• Angels star CF Mike Trout (groin) did not make the trip to Chicago and will be re-evaluated on Sunday, but he is not expected to go on the injured list.

• Contreras hit 10 home runs last season and did not belt his fifth until June 23.

• Chicago placed Victor Caratini on the 10-day injured list with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand and recalled fellow C Taylor Davis from Triple-A Iowa.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Chicago Cubs
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