2018 Game day thread
Rockies @ Cubs: Freeland vs Lester (Game 164; NL Wild Card Game)
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.)
Brewers @ Cubs: Chacin vs Quintana (Game 163; NL Central Tie-breaker)
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.
NL Central Tie-breaker Preview
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.
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Cardinals @ Cubs: Flaherty vs Montgomery (Game 162)
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.
Cardinals @ Cubs: Mikolas vs Hamels (Game 161)
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.
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Cardinals @ Cubs: Wainwright vs Hendricks (Game 160)
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.
Pirates @ Cubs: Williams vs Lester (Game 159)
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.
Pirates @ Cubs: Nova vs Quintana (Game 158)
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.
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Pirates @ Cubs: Archer vs Montgomery (Game 157)
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!
Pirates @ Cubs: Taillon vs Hamels (Game 156)
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.
Recent comments
CubbyBlue (view)
(LAUGH EMOJI)
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