Happ went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Webb (6-4) allowed two runs on one hit and one walk without recording a strikeout in one inning, taking the loss and a blown save in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Waldschmidt went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Cubs.
Holmes allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Pfaadt allowed four runs on six hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out three over 6.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Cubs on Tuesday.
Lawlar cleared concussion protocol following his removal from Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Lawlar was removed from Tuesday's game against the Cubs after getting hit on the head by a pitch, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Kelly and the Diamondbacks believe that Cubs third-base coach Quintin Berry was stealing pitches and relaying signs to hitters in Monday's 7-0 loss, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports. "Stealing signs is as old as baseball, I think it's a little [expletive] when it comes from the coach," Kelly said.
Kelly is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Wynns and the Cubs agreed on a minor-league contract Tuesday.
FanDuel (-136). Merrill Kelly has really struggled this season. Pitching to a 5.37 ERA, he’s actually a regression candidate, with his expected ERA at 7.23. His last two starts have yielded six earned runs in each, and his leash has shortened (80, 71 and 86 pitches over his last three). The Diamondbacks bullpen isn’t in great shape, but Arizona is battling for playoff positioning, and don’t have the luxury to mess around if Kelly is getting shelled. And he might tonight - the Cubs have sported an .818 OPS over the last two weeks versus righties, and have the third lowest team chase rate.
Merrill Kelly relies on chase to be effective, and he'll face off with a Cubs lineup that chases pitches out of the zone at the 5th lowest rate in the league. Chicago has led the league in working free passes from right-handed pitchers for the entire season, and they've remained above a 10% walk rate during the 2nd half (2nd in MLB). Kelly has walked an astonishing 40 batters in 70 innings when facing a lefty, as opposed to 17 in 52 innings to righties, so it will be on PCA, Ian Happ, and Michael Busch to grab some walks tonight. The DBacks used six relievers yesterday so if they push Kelly a bit further, we may get the extra walk we need.
Neither these starting pitchers have been in good form of late. Merrill Kelly has given up five runs, or more, in three of his last four starts, owning a 6.24 home ERA. On the other side, Kevin Gausman has a 6.19 ERA since being acquired by Chicago. Both offenses sit top of the National League in runs scored, average, OPS, and OBP.
The Cubs have scored at least four runs in seven of their last eight games. They poured on 19 runs on the Mariners last night before traveling to Phoenix here for a matchup with Merrill Kelly, who owns a 6.24 ERA in 10 starts at Chase Field. He's allowed five runs in three of his last four overall, all in five innings or fewer.
Do you think I'm betting against the future National League MVP when I'll be at the ballpark? Absolutely not. Pete Crow-Armstrong is 2 for 5 lifetime against Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly with two doubles. PCA has also hit this prop in 6 of his last 7 games. I think he once again puts on a show for those of us at Chase Field in front of a nearly 50/50 Cubs crowd.
