2023 Series Thread
Cubs @ Atlanta: Series Thread (Games 157-159)
The Cubs swept their final home series of the season and they hold the final NL Wild Card spot and trail Arizona by half a game going into the day off on Monday. These final six games will see the Cubs on the road against two division leaders, Atlanta and Milwaukee. The bullpen has struggled without key arms. There's a chance that Alzolay could return on this road trip, and Mark Leiter may be ready to appear again sometime soon. The Cubs are also looking to activate Jeimer Candelario as soon as his lower back allows it. Stroman has already returned to reinforce the rotation.
Cubs vs. Rockies: Series Thread (Games 154-156)
The Cubs' recent run of failure proceeded from frustrating to demoralizing against the Pirates. Solid pitching and defensive performers fell through and two attempted comebacks fell short as the Cubs managed only one win. Chicago is in a virtual tie for the final NL Wild Card spot with nine games remaining. They have three games against the Rockies at Wrigley to leave home on a positive note. See below for matchups.
Game 154, Friday, September 22, 1:20 pm central
CHC: RHP Jameson Taillon (7-10, 5.27 ERA)
COL: RHP Noah Davis (0-2, 9.58 ERA)
Cubs vs. Pirates: Series Thread (Games 151-153)
Following a day off on Monday, the Cubs begin their final homestand of the season. They need to put a devastating road trip behind them, as they have only twelve games left to scratch their way to a Wild Card position. They begin the homestand in a virtual tie with the Cincinnati Reds for the last NL Wild Card spot. Mathematically, the division is still in play as they are six games back of the Brewers and finish with a three game set in Milwaukee. They'll begin six at home with three games against the Pirates.
Cubs @ Diamondbacks: Series Thread (Games 148-150)
The Cubs took only one game from the last place Rockies in a series full of mistakes. They had Thursday to travel and regroup. Their rebound opportunity comes against the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Both teams face Wild Card stakes as the season nears its conclusion. Marcus Stroman has been building up his arm and could be pushes for an early return to big league action as the Cubs scramble for the postseason. See below for daily matchups.
Cubs @ Rockies: Series Thread (Games 145-147)
Despite dropping the first three games against the Diamondbacks this weekend, the Cubs pulled out a win in the final game and remain in the second NL Wild Card spot and three games back in the Central. They begin this week on the road in Colorado where they will play three games against a Rockies team aspiring to lose fewer than 100 games this season. Kris Bryant recently took batting practice but remains without a timetable for his return from a finger fracture.
Cubs vs. Diamondbacks: Series Thread (Games 141-144)
The Cubs swept the Giants to climb to 1.5 games back both in the NL Central and behind the Phillies for the top NL Wild Card spot. Moreover, the offense showed up for this series, with Bellinger and Suzuki staying hot and benefitting from support throughout the lineup. Twenty-two games remain to land a preferable playoff position. They host the Wild Card hopeful Arizona Diamondbacks starting this Thursday. See below for matchups in the four-game series.
Cubs vs. Giants: Series Thread (Games 138-140)
The Cubs split the series in Cincinnati, dropping to 3.5 back of Milwaukee and maintaining their second Wild Card spot. They return to Wrigley on Labor Day to take on the 70 and 67 Giants. San Francisco enters the series in a four way tie for the last Wild Card spot. See below for daily matchups.
Game 138, Monday, September 4, 1:20 pm central
CHC: LHP Justin Steele (15-3, 2.69 ERA)
SFG: RHP Logan Webb (9-11, 3.49 ERA)
Game 139, Tuesday, September 5, 6:40 pm central
CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (5-7, 3.59 ERA)
SFG: TBD
Cubs @ Reds: Series Thread (Games 134-137)
The Cubs closed out August by squeezing two wins from a three-game set against the Brewers at Wrigley. The barely present offense couldn't overcome a poor inning from Taillon to open the series. But Steele, Hendricks and the bullpen gutted out a pair of one-run wins to bring the Cubs to three back in the Central and to retain the second Wild Card spot.
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Cubs vs. Brewers: Series Thread (Games 131-133)
The Cubs have gone seven for their last ten, climbing into the second Wild Card position. They next get their opportunity against the Milwaukee Brewers, who are eight are on an eight-game winning streak that extended their NL Central lead to four. This is the first of two crucial series remaining in which the Cubs directly confront the Brew Crew. See below for matchups in this three game series at Wrigley Field.
Game 131, Monday, August 28, 7:05 pm central
CHC: RHP Jameson Taillon (7-8, 5.60 ERA)
MIL: LHP Wade Miley (6-3, 3.18 ERA)
Cubs @ Pirates: Series Thread (Games 127-130)
The Cubs won another close series, going 2-3 in Detroit. They arrive in Pittsburgh tied with the Reds for a Wild Card spot and 3.5 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central. The Pirates have two TBD starters in this four game series. So, find matchups below such as they stand.
Game 127, Thursday, August 24, 6:05 pm central
CHC: LHP Justin Steele (14-3, 2.80 ERA)
PIT: TBD
Game 128, Friday, August 25, 6:05 pm central
CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 3.83 ERA)
PIT: RHP Mitch Keller (10-8, 4.22 ERA)
Recent comments
Arizona Phil (view)
azbobbop: Yes.
Mike Wellman (view)
I’ve got Tim’s The Last Out too, along with some other prints of his work.
TarzanJoeWallis (view)
Very well played game all around tonight.
crunch (view)
best starter and 2 top hitters from the team gone...and they keep on winning.
little ahead of myself here, but the RSox got 9 outs to find 6+ runs.
TarzanJoeWallis (view)
Richard Gallardo just left the Smokies game with an arm injury after going to the ground following a pitch. Doesn’t sound good at all.
azbobbop (view)
Phil, do you think Wiggins will start out in ACL?
azbobbop (view)
The level of conversation on this site is intelligent, reasoned and informative. Miles ahead of other Cub sites.
Arizona Phil (view)
This was Jaxon Wiggins previous "live" BP on 4/5:
JAXON WIGGINS:
ONE INNING (20 pitches - 10 strikes)
one batted ball in play (F-9 by Stevens)
one walk (B. Davis)
one HBP (B. Davis)
two strikeouts (Peralta & Escobar - both looking)
three swing & miss
two fouls
four called strikes
nine called balls
Arizona Phil (view)
Prior to the Cactus League game at Papago Park, three Cubs pitchers threw "live" BP on Field 1 at the Cubs Sloan Park complex, including RHRP Ethan Roberts (June 2022 TJS) and Cubs 2023 2nd round draft pick RHP Jaxon Wiggins (February 2023 TJS).
Wiggins last threw "live" BP three weeks ago before being shut down for a couple of weeks, and this was the first time Roberts has thrown to hitters in almost two years.
JAXON WIGGINS:
ONE INNING:
25 pitches (11 strikes)
no batted balls in play
two walks (Suriel and J. Diaz)
three strikeouts (Carico, Lubo, and Escobar - all three swinging)
six swing & miss
two fouls
three called strikes
14 called balls
one WP
ETHAN ROBERTS:
ONE INNING
15 pitches (7 strikes)
two batted balls in play (G-3 by Carico and L-9 by Suriel)
two walks (Lubo and Carico)
no strikeouts
no swing & miss
two fouls
three called strikes
eight called balls
one WP
Mat Peters was bumped by Justin Steele from his scheduled game work at Giants, so he threw two innings of "live" BP with Wiggins & Roberts.
MAT PETERS:
TWO INNINGS
44 pitches (23 strikes)
five batted balls in play (F-7, L-7, F-7, G-6, G-3)
three walks
two strikeouts (both Lubo and both looking)
six swing & miss
three fouls
nine called strikes
21 called balls
three WP
crunch (view)
wall stole a HR from busch...double. nice to see him destroy a curve ball.
upon further viewing, that might not have been a homer in too many parks...it had a lot of hang time, though.