The Chicago Cubs will try to extend their season-best winning streak to seven games when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday afternoon to open a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
Chicago (49-35) has outscored opponents 56-35 during its six-game winning streak
http://www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-trent-murphy-jersey , which has pushed the team 14 games above .500 for the first time this season. The Cubs have scored at least five runs in eight straight games.
Through 84 games, the Cubs’ plus-104 run differential is by far the best in the National League.
“We’re all just trying to pass it along to the next guy,” Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber said recently to The Athletic. “We obviously want to have our at-bat and help out the team in some way. Get on base somehow, drive in guys, get the guy over. Whatever it is, we want to do that. And then it’s up to the guy behind us.
“We have full faith in everyone on this team. That’s the bottom line, we want to pass it on to the next guy.”
Cincinnati (38-49) has enjoyed the same type of positive momentum in recent weeks and is playing its best baseball of the season as it arrives to Chicago’s North Side. The Reds have won four of their past five games and 13 of 17 after concluding a three-game series with the Chicago White
During the past 17 games, the Reds have scored at least five runs 14 times.
“It’s our offense, we’re never down,” Reds pitcher Sal Romano said to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Doesn’t matter how many runs we’re down, they’re able to come back and swing it.”
The rejuvenated Reds have won or tied each of their past five series.
“I think that it’s getting to the point now where teams, when they come to play us or when we come to play them
Harold Landry Color Rush Jersey , there’s a little bit of, ‘Oh, shoot, we’ve got the Reds,'” Reds pitcher Jared Hughes told the Enquirer. “That’s what we want.”
Cincinnati has won six of nine games against Chicago this season, including a four-game sweep in June.
Cubs left-hander Mike Montgomery (3-2, 3.55 ERA) is slated to make his eighth start. The 29-year-old has provided much needed stability in the rotation after highly touted free-agent signing Yu Darvish went to the disabled list.
In 14 career appearances (four starts) against the Reds, Montgomery is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He has walked 11 and struck out 29 in 37 1/3 innings.
Cincinnati will turn to right-hander Tyler Mahle (6-6, 3.83), who is set to make his 18th start of the season and the 22nd start of his career. The 23-year-old is 3-0 with a 2.18 ERA in his past six outings.
This will be Mahle’s third career start against the Cubs. In his first two meetings, both of which took place this year, he went 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA.
Cubs hitters Ben Zobrist
http://www.packersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-j_mon-moore-jersey , Javier Baez and Schwarber each have gone deep against Mahle this season. Baez has been almost perfect against the pitcher, going 4-for-5 with a triple to go along with the homer.
However, the Cubs are focused on making hard contact rather than blasting long home runs.
“We’re not trying to hit home runs,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said to The Athletic. “We’re moving the baseball. We’re hitting it to all fields.”
CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers commuted to their workouts Tuesday, they drove through temperatures hovering near the freezing mark and steady snow.
It’s mid-April.
Before Game 1, there was no outdoor party in Cleveland celebrating another Cavs‘ playoff run, as there is usually before every postseason game.
A driving rain and cold temperatures saw to that.
And now, for the first time in LeBron James’ career, his team is down 0-1 in an opening-round playoff series.
This just doesn’t feel like playoff basketball in Cleveland.
“I would say our intensity, at least until we got hit in the mouth that first quarter, it didn’t quite feel like
Jordan Whitehead Color Rush Jersey , I guess, the playoffs,” Cavs forward Kevin Love said. “That’s a weird thing to say. It feels like the playoffs, especially now that we’re down 0-1. We better be ready for it.”
The Pacers won Game 1, 98-80. Game 2 is at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Cleveland.
The Cavs trailed by 20 points before James even attempted a shot on Sunday. Love only scored nine points and Jeff Green was shut out in 27 minutes.
The Pacers, meanwhile, were led by a playoff career high of 32 points from Victor Oladipo. They forced the Cavs into 17 turnovers. Myles Turner scored 16 points. Dating to the regular season, Indiana has won four out of five against the Cavs.
“They underestimate us,” said Indiana reserve Lance Stephenson, who scored 12 points. “They didn’t think we would get this far and they didn’t think we was going to win that many games, but if you look at our team, I guess you could say we don’t have that one player or the type of players that stand out and that’s why they underestimate us.”
Whereas the Pacers sound confident they can pull a historic upset — James’ teams have never lost a first-round series — the Cavs seem to believe James will set a different tone on Wednesday.
Yes
Kendall Wright Color Rush Jersey , James posted a triple double in Game 1 (24 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists), but he was clearly passive for the first 11 minutes. James is coming off arguably his finest of 15 pro seasons and averaged 29.5 points, 9.8 boards, and 10.0 assists in his last 30 games.
If that LeBron shows up, coach Tyronn Lue things the Cavs will be fine.
“When he sets the tone early for us, we’re usually a really good team,” Lue said. “So coming out, set the tone early, be able to call plays that feature him early to be aggressive. He’s always going to make the right play and the right pass, get others involved
Authentic Olivier Rodrigue Jersey , but tomorrow we’re going to need him to set the tone early, being aggressive and attacking the basket.”
The Pacers received 15 points from Bojan Bogdanovic, but he shot 5-of-17. Darren Collison was 2-of-9 shooting.
The game was so lopsided and the Cavs scored the second fewest points of their season, but the Pacers enter Game 2 feeling like they could still be better, too.
“They’re going to see what they can do from the previous game until now, even us we gotta be better,” Collison said. “There are some things we can improve on. I was looking at the film and we can do better in a lot of different areas so we can’t just take Game 1 and say we won and don’t have to do any improvements. We can be a whole lot better.”
Cavs point guard George Hill left Sunday’s game in the third quarter with a sore back, sustained on an illegal screen by Trevor Booker in the second quarter. Hill is expected to play Wednesday.
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