Cubs bring win streak into game against the Royals

Chicago Cubs (68-49, second in the NL Central) vs. Kansas City Royals (48-69, fifth in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Saturday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Clay Holmes (0-0); Royals: Seth Lugo (4-7, 4.41 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 99 strikeouts)

LINE: Cubs -170, Royals +149; over/under is 9 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs will try to extend a five-game win streak with a victory against the Kansas City Royals.

Kansas City is 48-69 overall and 28-29 in home games. The Royals have gone 20-13 in games when they hit two or more home runs.

Chicago has gone 33-25 in road games and 68-49 overall. The Cubs are 54-16 in games when they record at least eight hits.

Saturday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jac Caglianone leads the Royals with 18 home runs while slugging .456. Michael Massey is 6 for 36 with two home runs and five RBIs over the past 10 games.

Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs with 26 home runs while slugging .549. Nico Hoerner is 11 for 37 with two home runs and four RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 3-7, .234 batting average, 4.32 ERA, outscored by nine runs

Cubs: 7-3, .231 batting average, 2.51 ERA, outscored opponents by 14 runs

INJURIES: Royals: Luinder Avila: 60-Day IL (forearm), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nick Mears: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cole Ragans: 60-Day IL (elbow), Connor Seabold: 60-Day IL (lat), Maikel Garcia: 10-Day IL (hand), Vinnie Pasquantino: 10-Day IL (wrist), Beck Way: 15-Day IL (back), Carlos Estevez: 60-Day IL (foot), Stephen Kolek: 60-Day IL (flexor), Jonathan India: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Cubs: Hoby Milner: 15-Day IL (appendicitis), Christopher Austin: 60-Day IL (knee), Riley Martin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Phil Maton: 15-Day IL (knee), Clay Holmes: 60-Day IL (fibula), Ben Brown: 60-Day IL (neck), Ethan Roberts: 15-Day IL (forearm), Matt Shaw: 10-Day IL (hand), Gavin Hollowell: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Daniel Palencia: 15-Day IL (elbow), Edward Cabrera: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (tricep), Porter Hodge: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cade Horton: 60-Day IL (forearm), Shelby Miller: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.