Cubs @ Mariners: Hamels vs. Hernández (Game 27)
CHC (14-12): LHP Cole Hamels (3-0, 3.16 ERA)
SEA (18-13): RHP Félix Hernández (1-2, 3.91 ERA)
First pitch 9:10pmCDT
The Cubs will face the Mariners for the first time since 2016, and Cole Hamels will lead the way. Hamels' continued success with the Cubs has been fun and looks shockingly sustainable. His last start was a bit below the standard he's set for himself in Chicago. He walked too many to go deep into the game and allowed 3 ER in 5.1 IP against the Dodgers. Jay Bruce, Edwin Encarnacion, and Kyle Seager have seen their fair share of Hamels in the past. But only Seager has produced in that time (.846 OPS against), and he's on the DL recovering from a hand injury. Mitch Haniger is 4-8 with 2 HRs against the lefty. Former Cubs' prospect Dan Vogelbach is off to a red-hot start with the bat and boasts a walk rate just north of 20%.King Félix labored through five innings in his start against the Cubs in that 2016 series before the Mariner's bullpen ultimately took the loss. He's not the pitcher he once was, but Félix is off to a decent start this year. Last time out he got through the 7th allowing a solo HR as the only scoring and struck out 8. Both his ground ball rate and his curveball usage are up in the early going. The Cubs' current offense has little meaningful history against him, except that Zobrist is a horrid 6-39.
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