The set-up: Everyone keeps waiting for the Chicago Cubs to recapture the magic from their World Series run last October but after losing the first of a two-game IL series at home to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 4, the Cubs sit 41-42. The Cubs fell to 1-6 in interleague play this season after going 15-5 against AL clubs in 2016. About the only good news for Chicago fans is that despite a sub-.500 record, the Cubs are only 3 1/2 games out of first in the NL Central. The teams wrap up this two-game set this afternoon and while the Cubs have dropped five of their last seven games, the Rays have won three of their last four and check in at 44-41, putting them in a virtual three-way tie for the AL's second wild card spot.

The pitching matchup: Blake Snell (0-5 & 5.36 ERA) starts for Tampa and John Lackey (5-9 & 5.24 ERA) for Chicago. It' been a rough season so far for Snell (I'm being kind here),
as he hasn't made it through six innings since his season debut April 6. Snell has yet to record a quality start in nine outings this season, with the Rays going 2-7 in his starts. He'll make his first-ever start against the Cubs in this one. Meanwhile, the veteran Lackey has not been much better than Tampa's 24-year-old with just one win in his last seven decisions (he's 1-5 and the Cubs 2-5), while posting only three quality starts in his last nine outings. In fact, he's coming off his worst performance of the season last time out in an 8-4 loss at Washington, allowing eight runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings. Lackey is 14-8 with a 4.09 ERA in 25 starts against the Rays (teams are 16-9).

The pick: Lackey hasn't faced the Rays since 2014 but I favor the vet over Snell, who is 1-7 with a 4.64 ERA in 14 career road starts and hasn't had a big league victory since September 22, 2016. Snell was recalled from the minors to start this past Friday (his first big league appearance since mid-May) and allowed four hits, five walks and six ERs in five inning at Pittsburgh. Make the Cubs.an 8* play.