Cubs vs. Pirates: Series Threads (Games 135-138)

I didn't get to put up a post and the Cubs won two close games in Minnesota. Does that mean I should continue to not post? We'll never know! Next up, four games against the last-place Pirates. See below for the matchups.

Game 135, Thursday, September 2, 7:05 pm central

CHC: RHP Keegan Thompson (3-3, 3.09 ERA)

PIT: RHP Mitch Keller (4-10, 6.75 ERA)

Thompson has yet to carry his bullpen success into his starts. He went only two inning against the White Sox and allowed four earned runs while striking out only one. He has yet to go more than four innings in an appearance.

Keller went 5.1 innings but got shelled by the Cardinals last time out. It was the third start this season in which he's allowed 7 earned runs.

Game 136, Friday, September 3, 1:20 pm central

CHC: RHP Alec Mills (6-6, 4.32 ERA)

PIT: LHP Steven Brault (0-3, 4.57 ERA)

The Cubs best starting pitcher, Alec Mills, pitched 8.1 shutout innings to earn a win against the White Sox. Absolutely bless his heart.

Lefty Brault has made only five starts this season, all since the beginning of August. Too bad for him the Pirates had given up long before that. The Pirates earned seven earned runs off of him in three innings on August 28.

Game 137, Saturday, September 4, 1:20 pm central

CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (14-6, 4.43 ERA)

PIT: TBD

Alec Mills emulator, Kyle Hendricks, suffered through a start ranking among his bottom three of the season at the end of August. He allowed eight earned runs to the White Sox in 4.2 innings. He was only a few starts removed from a nine-run beating at the hands of the Brewers--August was unkind to his ERA.

The Brewers have not yet announced a starter for the Saturday game.

Game 138, Sunday, September 5, 1:20 pm central

CHC: RHP Zach Davies (6-10, 4.91 ERA)

PIT: RHP Wil Crowe (3-7, 5.46 ERA)

Davies held the Twins to one earned run but was pulled during the fifth for the second start in a row. He allowed *eleven* homeruns in six August starts.

Crowe pitched well enough in his last start, allowing three earned runs in five innings, but did not earn a decision against the Cardinals. He last faced the Cubs on May 26, when he exited after only 1.1 innings having allowed five hits and three earned runs.

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crunch 04/17/2024 - 04:19 pm (view)

he's a low-level cubs star in the modern history of the cubs (c.zambrano, k.wood, r.dempster, etc), but that star has dimmed...and has been dimming since 2021.

2024 has been ugly the whole way and we're only in mid-april. homers aside (even though there's been 7 in 17ip) he gave up 29 hits in 20 spring innings and 31 in 17 regular season innings.

he's pretty much only got 2 pitches at this point in his career and the mix isn't fooling anyone. he threw a noticable amount more curves in his last start to add to the mix and it didn't help his issues. he don't have many moves left to break out.
Eric S 04/17/2024 - 04:40 pm (view)

Definitely needs a 10 day stint for the hangnail - have to nip those things in the bud or suffer the consequences (ie, more opponent home run derby, etc)
Eric S 04/17/2024 - 04:35 pm (view)

Thanks for checking and yeah, that’s a double ouch
Sonicwind75 04/17/2024 - 04:01 pm (view)

Believe you are correct, checked and appears Cubs have a $2.51 million obligation to Barnhart this season per Cot's Contracts. Also paying Trey Mancini $7mil this season. Ouch.
crunch 04/17/2024 - 04:27 pm (view)

m.busch had 0hr and 2 doubles when he was last at wrigley.

we'll probably see a few more of his jerseys in the seats when they return tomorrow.

wonder who will go down for taillon. hey hendricks, you got a hangnail or something?
Eric S 04/17/2024 - 04:15 pm (view)

Nice work by Wesneski with some solid defense behind him and the late tack on runs were welcome. Gladly take a 5-4 West Coast swing, particularly down two key starting pitchers … Now just don’t get swept by the Marlins for Pete’s sake.
crunch 04/17/2024 - 04:13 pm (view)

dansby takes the team lead in SB today after a SB with 2 SB total. the team has 3. madrigal has the other one.

cubs also have 7 triples, 7 players each.
crunch 04/17/2024 - 04:58 pm (view)

sure am ready for p.wisdom and m.masterboney to swap roster spots.
Eric S 04/17/2024 - 04:04 pm (view)

The fifth inning has not been kind to Wicks this season. Giving up leadoff doubles to Tucker Barnhart is also not good for business. IIRC, the Cubs are on the hook for the majority of Barnhart’s salary this season to add insult to injury (could definitely be wrong here).
Cubster 04/17/2024 - 04:11 pm (view)

Kris Bryant to IL with low back strain. He’s keeping the Rockies docs busy.

Cubs MLB Roster

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