The Cubs beat the ridiculous fog last night, as well as the Nationals, and they’ll try to do it again today under presumably more normal conditions.
Jason Hammel goes for the Cubs today, and I feel obliged to say that it could be his last start with the team if they do wind up trading him on July 2, which is the first day the IFA period is open, which sometimes spurs trade activity (as it did last year with, for example, Scott Feldman). I don’t really like thinking in that way, because I just enjoy watching good players play well in the moment. So I hope Hammel pitches well solely because I hope Hammel pitches well.
Game Info
Washington Nationals (41-37) at Chicago Cubs (33-44), 3:05 CT on WGN.
Game Thread and Series Preview
Game threads now live here in the comments – and with Disqus, they should be even more enjoyable.
The Series Preview lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Tanner Roark (2.79 ERA, 3.40 FIP, 3.83 xFIP; 3.13 K/BB)
versus
Jason Hammel (2.99 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 3.29 xFIP; 4.55 K/BB)
Washington Nationals Lineup
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Anthony Rendon, 3B
3. Jayson Werth, RF
4. Adam LaRoche, 1B
5. Ryan Zimmerman, LF
6. Wilson Ramos, C
7. Ian Desmond, SS
8. Danny Espinosa, 2B
9. Tanner Roark, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Ryan Sweeney, RF
2. Justin Ruggiano, CF
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Starlin Castro, SS
5. Luis Valbuena, 3B
6. Chris Coghlan, LF
7. John Baker, C
8. Darwin Barney, 2B
9. Jason Hammel, P