2019 Gameday Thread

CHC (71-61): LHP Jon Lester (10-9, 4.49 ERA)
NYM (67-66): RHP Jacob deGrom (8-7, 2.56 ERA)
First pitch 6:10pmCDT

That 10-7 win was one of the tensest games I can remember that included an early 10-1 lead. With that win in hand, the Cubs clinched the series and go today for a sweep of the Wild Card hopefuls in Flushing. It'll also be another shot for the Cubs to creep beyond 10 games over .500. Jon Lester sets himself to the task. Lester has gone through a rough August, squishing two decent starts between a trio of flops. Even the good starts were shaky, as his command left him to the tune of eight walks in those eleven innings. Rajai Davis has a .907 OPS against him in 52 at bats and should be part of the usual strategy to take advantage of Lester on the basepaths. Amed Rosario is 5-9 off the lefty.

CHC (70-61): RHP Kyle Hendricks (9-9, 3.20 ERA)
NYM (67-64): RHP Noah Syndergaard (9-6, 3.71 ERA)
First pitch 6:10pmCDT

The Cubs started the road series with a win over Marcus Stroman and continue with another tough match-up today. Hendricks takes the mound, fresh off a very good performance against the Giants that yielded him a win. He pitched seven scoreless, collecting seven strikeouts and allowing three hits along the way. The Mets most dangerous hitters have seen little of Mr. Tenure Track, but Todd Frazier is 3-12 with two doubles and two walks. The bullpen should be extremely well rested following an off day and an 8-inning start from Yu.

CHC (69-61): RHP Yu Darvish (4-6, 4.43 ERA)
NYM (67-63): RHP Marcus Stroman (7-11, 3.18 ERA)
First pitch 6:10pmCDT

The Cubs reversed course in their last series, following a sweep of the Giants with a sweep at the hands of the Nats. The Cards defeated the Brewers on the Cubs' day off and now lead the North Siders by 3 full games. The Cubs will look to pull another about face and gather some rare road wins against the Mets, who trail the Cubs in the race for the second wild card spot by only two games.

The Nationals roll into the Windy City scrapping for a Wild Card spot. The Cubs have a dog fight going with St. Louis, who matched the Cubs with a win Thursday and trail by only half a game going into the series. (Add to that drama the excitement of players' weekend! Yipee!) See below for the daily match-ups.

CHC (68-58): RHP Kyle Hendricks (8-9, 3.37 ERA)
SF (63-64): RHP Jeff Samardzija (9-9, 3.54 ERA)
First pitch 1:20pmCDT

My heart doesn't believe it, but the Cubs today will try for their fifth win in a row and a sweep of the Giants. Can you believe that game yesterday counted as a win the same as, say, a solidly played 5-2 victory? Baseball is nonsense. Kyle Hendricks takes the mound and his performance should be key to this game, given that five relievers labored in last night's "victory." He last got a no decision against the Pirates on seven innings, one earned run, and only one strikeout. Current Giants are 27-125 off of him with a .556 OPS against him. Belt is 6-16 with the squads only homerun off of the righty.

CHC (67-58): RHP Yu Darvish (4-6, 4.21 ERA)
SF (63-63): RHP Dereck Rodriguez (5-6, 4.79 ERA)
First pitch 7:05pmCDT

The Cubs kept pace with the Cardinals by winning their third in a row, pushing the Giants back down to .500 in the process. Darvish takes the mound today. He must be itching for a win after shutting out the Phillies for 7 innings, striking out 10, and getting a no decision in the process. On July 23 he allowed four earned runs to the Giants in six innings of work. Alex Dickerson took him deep and is 2-3 with a homerun and a double off of Darvish. As a group, current Giants are 16-77 off of the righty with a .552 OPS and 17 strikeouts to only two walks.

CHC (66-58): LHP Cole Hamels (6-4, 3.69 ERA)
SF (63-62): RHP Tyler Beede (3-7, 5.77 ERA)
First pitch 7:05pmCDT

The Cubs swapped Bote for Cishek before the game, bolstering a bullpen that recently got back Craig Kimbrel as well. That plus the two wins the team put together at the end of the road trip should help them put their Pennsylvania struggles behind them. Meanwhile, Cole Hamels prepares to take on the Giants at Wrigley.

The Cubs may want to flee the state after that performance in Philadelphia, but they only make it as far as the western side of Pennsylvania. There, they find the last place Pirates waiting for them. The Pirates ended an 8-game skid by taking the first two in their last series, against the Angels. The Pittsburgh club is firmly in the role of spoiler following that 8-game losing streak and a 9-game losing streak that lead them into the trade deadline. The Cubs head into the series in a tie with the Cardinals and only 1 game ahead of the Brewers. See below for the matchups.

CHC (65-56): RHP Yu Darvish (4-6, 4.43 ERA)
PHI (62-58): LHP Drew Smyly (2-6, 6.96 ERA)
First pitch 6:05pmCDT

Yu Darvish continued to get hurt by the long ball, allowing three homeruns in what seemed like it should have been a stellar start last time out. He struck out nine and walked none, but gave up three homeruns and four earned runs in Cincinnati. His strikeouts and walks have been trending in the ace direction for about two months. Citizen's Bank is not, however, a good place to hide out from the dinger. Harper is 0-2 with a walk against Darvish. Dickerson is 4-10 with a homerun, and Cesar Hernandez is 4-8 with a triple.

CHC (64-55): LHP Cole Hamels (6-3, 3.09 ERA)
PHI (61-58): RHP Aaron Nola (10-3, 3.67 ERA)
First pitch 6:05pmCDT

Hamels returns to his old stomping grounds for the first time as a visitor. He struggled in his last start, going only 3 innings and allowing five runs, four earned, in Cincinnati. Before that he was solid, and prior to that spent a month on the I.L. He got a no decision against the Phils on May 22 in his only start against his former team, allowing 3 earned runs on 9 hits in 4 innings. He's held Bryce Harper to 9-37 with one double and 8 walks. Realmuto is 4-11 with two doubles off of Hamels.