CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs return to Wrigley Field on Friday with a shored-up starting pitching staff and their longest winning streak of the year.
The defending World Series champions have won six straight since the All-Star break and are only one game out of first place — a 4 1/2 game pickup on the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers — as they open a three-game weekend series with division rival St. Louis (46-49).
Chicago (49-45) will also show off its newest acquisition — left-hander Jose Quintana — with a Sunday start in his Cubs home debut.