Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who went 21 games without a homer earlier this season, will enter Chicago’s Wednesday game against the visiting Miami Marlins on a hot streak.
Bryant has a homer in each of his past three games — the first time in his career he has accomplished that feat.
The latest Bryant homer occurred Tuesday night, when his walk-off blast with two outs and a 1-2 count in the bottom of the ninth sunk the Marlins 5-2.
Bryant, the second overall pick in the 2013 draft, hit the Tuesday blast to left-center off a 98.7 mph fastball from lefty reliever Adam Conley.
“When you get walked off,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said postgame, “it’s not a good feeling.”
The Cubs need Bryant’s bat to stay hot. He was the National League’s Rookie of the Year in 2015, the NL Most Valuable Player in 2016 and a World Series champion that same year.
That’s why Bryant’s power drought earlier this season was so worrisome. He hit 94 homers in his first three years in the majors, but a left-shoulder injury last May led to a decline. He hit just 13 homers last season.
His teammates, however, say they have not lost confidence in Bryant.
“You just weather the storm until you get hot,” Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo. “I haven’t see him pressing.”
Added Cubs manager Joe Maddon on Bryant: “He’s going to start hitting. He’s an elite player.”
On Wednesday, Bryant and his teammates will face Marlins right-hander Jose Urena (1-5, 5.45 ERA).
Urena has been better of late, pitching to a 3.46 ERA in his past four starts. He has an upper-90s fastball, and opponents are hitting just .158 against his changeup.
In his most recent start, Urena was the subject of controversy as Braves pitcher Kevin Gausman was ejected for throwing behind him in a continuation of a bean-ball beef that began last year.
Urena, who led the National League in hit-by-pitches in each of the past two years — a total of 26 — said he is not going to change how he pitches.
“That’s my game,” Urena said in Spanish. “This is how I am authentic. I’m going to (pitch inside against the Braves) or anyone else.”
Urena has pitched in two games at Chicago’s Wrigley Field in his career, going 1-0 with a 5.23 ERA. This will be the first time he faces the Cubs this year, but, over his career, he is 2-2 with a 4.78 ERA.
Chicago will counter Urena with right-hander Kyle Hendricks (2-4, 3.93 ERA), who shut out the St. Louis Cardinals on just 81 pitches last Friday. He struck out just three batters but walked none and threw just 18 balls.
Hendricks likely welcomes the Marlins on his calendar. Last year, he went 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts against Miami. And in six career starts against the Marlins, Hendricks is 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA.