
Cubs host the Mariners to begin 3-game series
Seattle Mariners (37-36, second in the AL West) vs. Chicago Cubs (45-29, first in the NL Central)
Chicago; Friday, 2:20 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Mariners: George Kirby (1-3, 5.96 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 30 strikeouts); Cubs: Matthew Boyd (6-3, 2.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 73 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cubs -129, Mariners +109; over/under is 9 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs host the Seattle Mariners to open a three-game series.
Chicago has a 24-13 record in home games and a 45-29 record overall. The Cubs rank fifth in MLB play with 102 total home runs, averaging 1.4 per game.
Seattle has gone 17-17 in road games and 37-36 overall. The Mariners have a 17-9 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.
The matchup Friday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Tucker has 15 doubles, four triples and 13 home runs for the Cubs. Dansby Swanson is 11 for 37 with a double and three home runs over the last 10 games.
J.P. Crawford has a .294 batting average to lead the Mariners, and has 10 doubles and six home runs. Cole Young is 11 for 35 with four RBIs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 5-5, .204 batting average, 3.36 ERA, outscored by three runs
Mariners: 5-5, .262 batting average, 3.43 ERA, outscored opponents by three runs
INJURIES: Cubs: Miguel Amaya: 10-Day IL (oblique), Porter Hodge: 15-Day IL (oblique), Eli Morgan: 60-Day IL (elbow), Shota Imanaga: 15-Day IL (leg), Javier Assad: 60-Day IL (oblique), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Mariners: Bryce Miller: 15-Day IL (elbow), Collin Snider: 15-Day IL (forearm), Luke Raley: 10-Day IL (side), Gregory Santos: 60-Day IL (knee), Victor Robles: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Bliss: 60-Day IL (biceps)
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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