It started to look like batting practice for the Cubs with the way they were consistently barreling up the ball.

In the Cubs’ 8-1 win Thursday, Rea held the Twins to three hits and one run through seven innings. He not only set the team up to avoid a sweep in Minnesota but also gave the bullpen rest going into a three-game series against the Yankees that’s expected to open with a bullpen day.

The Chicago Cubs and the Minnesota Twins wrap up a 3-game interleague series Thursday at Target Field in Minneapolis.

On Sunday, the Twins will add the next wave of talent to the organization when the draft begins, making their first selection at No. 16 overall with another pick coming at No. 36 overall, a Competitive Balance Round A selection.

Simeon Woods Richardson outpitched Shota Imanaga with five scoreless innings, and the Twins beat the Chicago Cubs 8-1 on Tuesday night.

The Twins had added another run before that, on a Matt Wallner home run in the second, so when the fourth began it was 3-0 Twins. Then this happened [VIDEO]. The second was June 23-24 at St. Louis. The Cubs won the third game there, then a fourth game as well, shutting out the Cardinals in both.

The Chicago Cubs must address their weak link, and these three third base trade candidates could all be upgrades.

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Colin Rea (6-3, 4.13 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 60 strikeouts); Twins: Chris Paddack (3-7, 4.64 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 68 strikeouts) BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs will aim to stop a three-game road skid when they face the Minnesota Twins.