2019 Gameday Thread

CHC (34-26): LHP José Quintana (4-4, 3.78 ERA)
COL (31-29): RHP Peter Lambert (0-0, -.-- ERA)
First pitch 1:20pmCDT

The Cubs are back in first and rely on Quintana to push them toward the sweep this afternoon. José pitched only 4 innings his last start due to rain. He was getting somewhat mixed results up to that point, allowing 2 earned runs but also striking out six. A few current Rockies have enjoyed their few opportunities against him. Arenado has a pair of homeruns in 9 at bats. Mark Reynolds has four extra base hits but also six strikeouts in 17 at bats. Story is 3-5 with a double and a triple.

CHC (33-26): RHP Yu Darvish (2-3, 5.02 ERA)
COL (31-28): RHP German Marquez (6-2, 3.48 ERA)
First pitch 7:05pmCDT

Yu Darvish goes to the hill against the Rockies for game two of the series. He's had a string of four OK starts besmirched only by a bad beginning of the 8th on May 25. Last time out, he pitched six one-run innings striking out six and walking three against the Cardinals. The Rockies have seen little of him. Arenado is 3-8 and Trevor Story is 2-6, each with a homerun.

CHC (32-26): RHP Kyle Hendricks (5-4, 3.09 ERA)
COL (31-27): RHP Jeff Hoffman (1-1, 7.20 ERA)
First pitch 7:05pmCDT

Hendricks held off the Astros for eight innings last time out, allowing only one run and earning the lone Cubs' win of the series. He won't have to face the injured Blackmon, who is 5-16 with 4 walks against him. Former Cub Daniel Murphy is 6-16 with two homeruns. Nolan Arenado is 6-22 with two homeruns. The Rockies are fifth in the majors in runs scored but have a team wRC+ of 89, good for 21st in the majors. Their offense has been lively lately. Since May 1st, they've posted an .883 OPS and 114 wRC+. That's on the back of a .359 BABIP. Their team OPS on the road is only .679.

CHC (31-26): LHP Jon Lester (3-4, 3.59 ERA)
LAA (29-30): RHP Cam Bedrosian (2-3, 3.08 ERA) / RHP Trevor Cahill (2-5, 6.92 ERA)
First pitch 3:05pmCDT

The Cubs just finished a series which I seem to have blacked out. Weird. Instead of the scheduled off-day, they play a make-up game against the Angels back at Wrigley. Jon Lester takes the mound with an ERA inflated following three rough starts. Last time out he allowed a season-high seven earned runs to the Astros. He allowed three walks and eight hits in 5.1 innings pitched. I don't think anyone expected him to go undefeated with a sub-2 ERA on the season, but the three-game implosion has been hard to explain. He's held Mike Trout to 2-14 with five strikeouts.

The Cubs swoop into St. Louis to pick off a few Cardinals this weekend. Kris Bryant and I hope every Cubs player gets boo'd this weekend!

The Cubs have dropped six out of their last ten games, but they remain atop the NL central and 4.5 games ahead of the Cards. Bryant returned to the lineup on Wednesday as DH, after taking some time off to recover from an outfield collision with Heyward. Javy played the field on Wednesday, but he played 3rd base after DH-ing a few games to rest his injured heel. The Cubs have been on a heck of a homerun streak, but have only occasionally translated that into a win. On Wednesday, Kyle Hendricks's strong performance helped the Cubs take advantage of early homeruns by Schwarber and Bryant.

CHC (30-23): RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.34 ERA)
HOU (37-19): LHP Wade Miley (5-2, 3.32 ERA)
First pitch 7:10pmCDT

Kyle Hendricks starts and plays the role of stopper in the series finale against the former division rivals. After three dominant starts, Hendricks has gone 1-0 in his last two, allowing 7 earned runs but also striking out 13 in 11.2 innings pitched against the Nationals and the Reds. Only Chirinos and Diaz (currently on the IL) have faced him. Chirinos is 0-2. These replacement Astros have been more than the Cubs could handle in the first two games. So, watch out for Some Dude.

CHC (30-22): LHP Jon Lester (3-3, 2.68 ERA)
HOU (36-19): RHP Corbin Martin (1-1, 4.97 ERA)
First pitch 7:10pmCDT

The Cubs mounted a comeback bid yesterday, but it wasn't enough to overcome Hamels' rough start in the series opener. Jon Lester heads to the mound to even things out tonight. He's looked very hittable in his last two starts, allowing nine earned runs on 17 hits (three homers) in 8.1 innings pitched. Michael Brantley is 8-24 off of him with 9 strikeouts. Josh Reddick it 2-10 with 4 whiffs. No other active Astro has more than 3 at bats against him.