Royals @ Cubs: Volquez vs. Arrieta (Game 47 Thread)

KC (28-18): RHP Edinson Volquez (4-3, 2.77)

CHC (25-21): RHP Jake Arrieta (4-4, 2.95)

Interleague! The Royals have not been to Wrigley since 2001. (The last time both clubs had winning records was 2003.) Also, welcome back to Dale Sveum, who’s now their hitting coach and looks much better in the other dugout. If the Twitter chatter is any indication, there is a healthy large numerous KC contingent in town.

There are also scattered storms in the region, but it looks like we’ll get the game in but maybe with a delay or two. 

Arrieta struggled-ish his last time out (against AZ), going 6 innings and giving up 3 ER. He didn’t factor in the win, thanks to Rizzo’s 9th inning work. None of the Royals have had more than 8 ABs against him. Without the DH Morales sits.

Volquez, who has mostly been in the NL till this past season, is 7-0 with a 2.90 versus the Cubs. He gave up 2 ER in 6 innings and won against the Cardinals in his outing last weekend. Fowler has the most at-bats and some success against him (8-24, 1 HR). It’s interesting that Lake gets the start over Coghlan.

We are catching the reigning AL champs at a good time. They started the season by defying expectations and playing with a chip on their shoulders. They had the best record in baseball after 42 games. But they might be settling in and have fallen back to a tie with the--hang on, is that right?--the Minnesota Twins for first place. KC has lost their last four, including getting swept by the Yanks in the Bronx, and have scored only 5 runs in their last 36 innings.

Let’s hope it stays that way. As Jackstraw and Carlito noted, the Cubs have not won a game since I joined the rotation. (And here I was calling myself “undefeated.”) In either event, I need this one...

Thanks to Trans and everyone for the kind words--and those other things that were said. And thanks again to Rob and to Christian and the entire TCR grounds crew for the countless emails that were flying around yesterday and the mostly seamless transition.

Finally, you might have also noticed that Parachat is back! I’ll be in there holding court for the first half of the game or so. I’ve already swept it out and cleaned up after the animals. (There was some heavy Fabreze action.) Also, quite shockingly, when I opened the door, I found Neifi Perez, wearing nothing but sunglasses and cleats. It turns out he was locked in there the whole time.

Go Cubs!