Cubs aim to stop 5-game skid, take on the Marlins

Miami Marlins (48-57, fourth in the NL East) vs. Chicago Cubs (41-63, fifth in the NL Central)

Chicago; Friday, 2:20 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Marlins: TBD; Cubs: Justin Steele (4-7, 3.86 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 87 strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs head into a matchup with the Miami Marlins as losers of five in a row.

Chicago has a 41-63 record overall and a 20-32 record in home games. The Cubs have a 15-9 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.

Miami has gone 25-29 on the road and 48-57 overall. The Marlins have a 26-16 record in games when they did not allow a home run.

Friday's game is the first time these teams square off this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Nico Hoerner has a .292 batting average to rank seventh on the Cubs, and has 14 doubles, three triples and six home runs. Ian Happ is 8-for-37 with two RBI over the last 10 games.

Garrett Cooper has 22 doubles, a triple and seven home runs for the Marlins. Jesus Aguilar is 5-for-31 with two doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 4-6, .209 batting average, 3.43 ERA, outscored by 13 runs

Marlins: 3-7, .226 batting average, 4.81 ERA, outscored by 21 runs

INJURIES: Cubs: Steven Brault: 10-Day IL (covid), Andrelton Simmons: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Kyle Hendricks: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Mills: 15-Day IL (back), Jason Heyward: 10-Day IL (knee), Michael Hermosillo: 60-Day IL (quadricep), Wade Miley: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Manuel Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ethan Roberts: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Adbert Alzolay: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Codi Heuer: 60-Day IL (elbow), Brad Wieck: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Marlins: Avisail Garcia: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jordan Holloway: 60-Day IL (elbow), Daniel Castano: 7-Day IL (concussion), Trevor Rogers: 15-Day IL (back), Max Meyer: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jazz Chisholm: 60-Day IL (back), Cody Poteet: 60-Day IL (elbow), Elieser Hernandez: 15-Day IL (covid-19), Brian Anderson: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Tommy Nance: 15-Day IL (groin), Jorge Soler: 10-Day IL (back), Jon Berti: 10-Day IL (groin), Cole Sulser: 15-Day IL (lat), Paul Campbell: 60-Day IL (elbow), Sean Guenther: 60-Day IL (arm)

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