Image
Cubs vs. Padres: Series Thread (Games 143-146)
This weekend saw the Cubs lose three out of four to the trailing Brewers, fall to 4.5 behind the Cardinals in the division, and shrink their Wild Card lead to 1.5 games with the D-Backs, Phillies, and Brewers all pounding on the door behind them. Meanwhile, fans got news that Javy's jammed thumb is actually a fracture, and Russell was hit in the face with a fastball. If this didn't feel like a turn in the wrong direction, the team's inability to capitalize on the rally after Russell was hit felt like a failure to turn in the right direction. Nico Hoerner is called up to reinforce the middle infield, and maybe the rookie will be able to invigorate the team and the fans after the disappointing series in Milwaukee. He and the rest of the Cubs will take on the Padres for four games on the west coast. Continue below for match-ups.
Game 143, Monday, September 9, 9:10pmCDT
CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (9-9, 3.39 ERA)
SDP: RHP Cal Quantrill (6-6, 4.57 ERA)
Hendricks went six solid innings last time out, allowing one earned run on a walk and three hits to Seattle. He lost his other start against the Padres this year but allowed only two runs in seven innings in that start. Hunter Renfroe, Travis Jankowski, and Eric Hosmer have all had some success against him in limited at bats.
Quantrill defeated the Cubs on July 21, shutting them out for 5.2 and allowing only two hits. He pitched in relief of opener Adrian Morejon hat day. Rizzo and Kyle Hendricks have the only his off of him.
Game 144, Tuesday, September 10, 9:10pmCDT
CHC: LHP José Quintana (13-8, 4.00 ERA)
SDP: RHP Ronald Bolaños (0-1, 3.00 ERA)
Quintana earned the lone win in the Brewers series, pitching five innings and allowing four earned runs but benefiting from a booming Cubs offense. He similarly won out against the Padres on July 20, despite allowing five earned runs, including three homers, in five innings. Hosmer has only a .529 OPS against him in 74 at bats.
Bolaños took a loss in his MLB debute, allowing two earned runs in six innings of work against the D-Backs. He leaned heavily on his mid-to-upper-90s fastball in that start, mixing in a smaller portion of sliders, slow curves, and the occasional changeup as well. Having made the jump from AA to the majors, this is his first exposure to the juiced MLB baseball. May he begin to feel its effects.
Game 145, Wednesday, September 11, 9:10pmCDT
CHC: LHP Cole Hamels (7-6, 3.95 ERA)
SDP: RHP Chris Paddack (8-7, 3.54 ERA)
Hamels departed his last start after only 3.1, allowing five earned runs to Milwaukee in his second consecutive start against that offense. He allowed nine hits, two homers, in that 3.1 innings. He was on the I.L. for the last round against the Padres. Machado is 1-14 and Hosmer 0-13 off he veteran lefty.
Paddack was handed a no-decision after 5.1 scoreless innings in his last start. He's relied on strikeouts to a great extent in his debut season, K-ing more than a batter per inning while limiting walks but allowing a fair amount of contact in the air and 1.53 homeruns per nine innings. He missed the Cubs in July.
Game 146, Thursday, September 12, 2:40pmCDT
CHC: RHP Yu Darvish (5-6, 4.12 ERA)
SDP: RHP Dinelson Lamet (2-4, 3.95 ERA)
Darvish allowed one walk and three hits while striking out seven and shutting out the Brewers for five innings in his last start. Perhaps Petco can help him keep the ball in the park, his one consistent shortcoming this season. He hasn't faced the Padres this year. He's held Hosmer to 2-14 in his career.
After missing 2018, Lamet has returned to make eleven starts with the Padres this season. In that time he's thrown his slider 43.9% of the time and his changeup on 1.4% of the time; splits favor left-handed batters. Lamet missed the Cubs in July, but the Cubs faced him way back in May of 2017 in his second MLB start. He won that match, in which Schwarber (1-2) took him deep and Heyward went 2-2.
Much luck to the Rockies, who welcome the Cardinals for three games starting on the 10th.
Tags
Comments