CTSteve's Archives

Kyle Hendricks takes the mound for the first time in 2019.

Welcome to the end of the void and the beginning of the baseball season! 

Remember that, in addition to your brilliant and insightful comments, you are also welcome to join the MeWe chat--on your computer or the great app. 

Go Cubs!

The Free Agents Contest has not been determined, but it's already time to reveal your "genius" in a new way: the 2019 TCR Predictions Contest. It's the second or third most wholesome thing you can do on the web.

Make your guesses by the first pitch of opening day. Thoughts and prayers are useless, but bribes can be sent using PayPal, Venmo, or EBT.

Good luck!

While I’m weighing multiple $300m+ offers, I wanted to take a moment to announce a change to the site: I will no longer be making regular daily game thread posts.

If anyone is interested in stepping up to fill that void, let me know. (Perhaps a once-a week rotation could work.)

The good news is that I will still be lurking in the background to keep the site running and making the occasional snide comment. I’ll keep the contests running, too. 

It's Game Two of the World Series, so what better time to start thinking of the off-season and who goes where. Yes, yes--it's time for the TCR Free Agents Predictions Contest! http://bit.ly/tcr1819

Congrats again to Anthony, last year's winner, who had a whopping 12 points. See the final results here: http://bit.ly/tcr1718

COL (0-0): LHP Kyle Freeland (0-0, —-)
CHC (0-0): LHP Jon Lester (0-0, —-)
First pitch: 7:00pmCST

We started yesterday morning tied for the best record in the League. Now we're looking down the barrel of an elimination game. Yay, baseball! Of course, if we lose both of these games, we deserve to be eliminated. (I seem to recall saying the same thing about a couple of games in 2003.)

MIL (95-67): RHP Jhoulys Chacin (15-8, 3.56)
CHC (95-67): LHP José Quintana (13-11, 4.09)
First pitch: 12:05pmCST

Quintana gave up 2 ER in 5 innings and had a no-decision against the Pirates on Friday. He's 4-1 with a 2.17 in six starts against the Brewers this season, including 6.2 scoreless innings on September 11 at Wrigley. The Brewers are 63-310 (.203) against him. Moustakas is 12-46 with 3 HR, and Yelich is 1-11.

As the Cubs prepare for the dreaded Game 163 (against the flippin' Brewers?), here are some things to chew on. 

Starter: Quintana has great numbers against the Brewers, and I don't like TBD's body language. Advantage Cubs.

Offense: The Cubs have scored 10 more runs on the season, but the Brewers have done better in the second half. Advantage Brewers.

The Bullpen: The Cubs are used up and banged up; the Brewers are rested. Advantage Brewers.

Defense: The Brewers have committed 4 more errors and are playing in someone else's park. Advantage Cubs.

STL (88-73): RHP Jack Flaherty (8-8, 3.16)
CHC (94-67): LHP Mike Montgomery (5-6, 3.99)
First pitch: 2:20pmCST

Montgomery gave up 5 ER in 4 innings and lost to the Pirates on Tuesday. In four games (two starts) against the Cardinals this season, he's 0-1 with a 3.60. Overall, they are 22-77 (.286) against him.

STL (87-73): RHP Miles Mikolas (17-4, 2.94)
CHC (94-66): LHP Cole Hamels (9-11, 3.87)
First pitch: 12:05pmCST

Hamels gave up 2 ER in 6 innings and lost against the Pirates on Monday. The Cardinals are 22-86 (.258) against him. Ozuna is 8-29 with 3 HR.

Mikolas beat the Giants (7 IP, 1 ER) his last time out. In three games against the Cubs this season, he's 2-0 with a 2.00. For their careers, these Cubs are 19-76 (.250) against him. Happ is 3-5.

Tomorrow it's Montgomery and Flaherty at 2:20pmCST to end the regular season.

STL (87-72): RHP Adam Wainwright (2-3, 4.08)
CHC (93-66): RHP Kyle Hendricks (13-11, 3.49)
First pitch: 1:20pmCST

Hendricks gave up 1 ER in 7.2 innings and won on the Southside on Sunday. He's 2-0 with a 4.08 in three games against the Cards this season. Overall, they are 41-168 (.244) against him. Ozuna is 7-19 with 2 HR.

PIT (80-77): RHP Trevor Williams (14-9, 3.04)
CHC (92-66): LHP Jon Lester (17-6, 3.43)
First pitch: 7:05pmCST

Lester won on the Southside on Saturday (5 IP, 2 ER). After an inconsistent couple of months, he's 3-1 with a 1.90 in September. He's 3-1 with a 3.72 in 5 starts against the Pirates this season. Overall, they are 51-208 (.245) against him. Bell is 5-16 with a HR.

PIT (80-76): RHP Ivan Nova (9-9, 4.01)
CHC (91-66): LHP José Quintana (13-11, 4.11)
First pitch: 7:05pmCST

Quintana gave up 5 ER in as many innings and lost to the White Sox on Friday. He had a no-decision in Pittsburgh (5 IP, 1 ER) on August 19. Overall, the Pirates are 11-52 (.212) against him. Dickerson is 4-9

Nova, who had a no-decision against the Brewers his last time out (4.1 IP, 1 ER), is 2-1 with a 2.33 in three starts against the Cubs this season. For their careers, these Cubs are 41-176 (.233) against him. Happ is 4-17 with 3 HR, and Contreras is 5-11.

PIT (79-76): RHP Chris Archer (5-8, 4.49)
CHC (91-65): LHP Mike Montgomery (5-5, 3.75)
First pitch: 7:05pmCST

Montgomery won in Arizona his last time out (6 IP, 1 ER). He's 2-0 with a 2.63 in two starts (and three games) against the Pirates. Overall, they are 17-70 (.243) against him. Mercer is 4-9 with a HR.

Archer gave up 1 ER in 7 innings and beat KC his last time out. The Cubs are 15-47 (.319) against him for their careers. Baez is 3-6.

Quintana and Nova tomorrow at the same time.

Go Cubs!

PIT (78-76): RHP Jameson Taillon (13-9, 3.24)
CHC (91-64): LHP Cole Hamels (9-10, 3.90)
First pitch: 7:05pmCST

Hamels didn't have it on Wednesday in Arizona—to say the least, giving up 7 ER in 6 innings. That was probably bound to happen. He has two wins and twelve scoreless innings against the Pirates this season—and a nice chance to right the ship. Overall, they are 20-78 (.256) against him. Marte is 10-20 with a HR.