Normally, winning three of five games against the team with the best record in the majors would be reason to celebrate.
But after his squad dropped the finale of its series with the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell wasn’t in a partying mood.
“I describe the series is that we kind of held serve,” Counsell said after a 4-1 setback. “We probably needed a little bit more. We win three out of five, that adds up to three wins, but today’s game stings a little bit. Getting today’s game obviously would have been a big one.”
The second-place Cubs reside seven games behind the National League Central-leading Brewers heading into the opener Friday night of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif. The set will begin Chicago’s nine-game road trip against Los Angeles, San Francisco and Colorado.
The good news? All three teams the Cubs will play have losing records.
So, although Chicago is just 32-30 on the road this season, there’s still an opportunity to make up ground in the standings. The Cubs also hold a 5 1/2-game lead for the top NL wild-card berth.
Left-hander Tyler Anderson (2-8, 4.77 ERA), who has gone a team-record 20 consecutive starts without a win, is expected to start Friday for the Angels. He is 6-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 11 career starts against the Cubs.
Counsell wasn’t ready to name his starter after Thursday’s loss, telling reporters, “We’ve got some stuff going on.” But right-hander Ben Brown (5-7, 5.91) is likely to start the opener after allowing two runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings in a no-decision vs. Pittsburgh on Sunday in his most recent outing. Chicago won 4-3.
Brown has never faced the Angels, who are 6 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot in the American League and had a day off on Thursday. The Angels come in off a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Luis Rengifo singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth and Yoan Moncada hit a home run to back the pitching of Yusei Kikuchi, who allowed one run over seven innings.
Los Angeles got some good news on the injury front afterward.
Shortstop Zach Neto avoided a serious injury after leaving before the start of the sixth inning following getting hit in the left wrist by a pitch from Nick Martinez. X-rays of the wrist were negative, and Neto is expected to return to the lineup on Friday night.
“I feel pretty good, just sore right now,” Neto told The Orange County Register. “A little weak, but that’s usually what happens when you get hit.”
Asked if he would play Friday, Neto replied, “God willing. Hopefully. Everything came back negative. You know me, I’m gonna try to do everything I can to make sure I’m ready for Friday.”
Neto is batting .267 with 21 home runs and 22 stolen bases this season.