The Chicago Cubs are riding high with nine wins in a row and 19 in their past 22 games.
The Texas Rangers have lost seven of their past 10 games, mustering a total of 27 runs in that span.
The Cubs will look to continue their torrid play on Friday night when they begin a nine-game road trip with the opener of a three-game series against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas.
Michael Conforto homered to highlight a 3-for-3 performance as Chicago coasted to an 8-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. The right fielder also drew a bases-loaded walk to ignite a seven-run fourth inning, helping the Cubs extend their home winning streak to 15 games.
“He had a big day,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said of Conforto, who was playing in place of Seiya Suzuki (rest). “The at-bats that he’s provided in limited playing time, it’s just really impressive.
“… Player of the game offensively, nice piece to have on your team.”
Conforto also came through in a pinch on Monday, belting a solo homer in the ninth inning to lift the Cubs to a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Reds.
Chicago’s Ian Happ went 0-for-3 with a walk on Thursday, extending his on-base streak to 28 games.
While there is little question about the Cubs’ offense of late, there was a bit of mystery surrounding the team’s starting pitcher for the series opener.
That slot originally was held by Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd, who underwent surgery Thursday morning on the meniscus in his left knee. The left-hander is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell ultimately decided to give Ben Brown (1-1, 2.10 ERA) his first start of the season on Friday. The right-hander has one save, 24 strikeouts and eight walks in 25 2/3 innings across 12 relief outings this year.
“That’s really been my goal with Ben, period, is to keep him in bigger outings,” Counsell said, according to MLB.com. “Just because I think he’s capable of carrying that innings load, and it’s a good contrast to the other guys we have in the bullpen.
“We’re just trying to think about the innings puzzle moving forward here. And then you’re also just trying to think about what’s next; you have to play that game, unfortunately. You always have to play that game. What do we do if something else happens? We just have to make sure we are covered there.”
Brown struggled in his lone previous appearance against Texas, when he allowed six runs in 1 2/3 innings in 2024.
Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker (1-3, 4.71 ERA) will start on Friday.
Rocker lost his second straight start on Saturday after allowing five runs on seven hits in two innings during a 5-1 setback against the host Detroit Tigers. He exited after a season-low 43 pitches.
Rocker has yet to face the Cubs in his career.
Ezequiel Duran homered and drove in both Rangers runs in Texas’ 9-2 road loss to the New York Yankees on Thursday afternoon. He is 7-for-17 with five RBIs and four runs during his season-high five-game hitting streak.
“I’m just trying to keep it simple,” Duran said, per The Dallas Morning News. “Use the big part of the field.”
Texas’ Brandon Nimmo has hit safely in seven of his last eight games after going 2-for-5 in the finale at New York.
–Field Level Media
