The Cubs can make this seven-game stretch against the Dodgers and Cardinals a tolerable 3-4 with a win tonight. Jason Hammel faces Carlos Martinez, who has been on a roll, though the Cubs did handle him the last time they faced him.
It’s actually pretty silly how much I feel like a win tonight will leave me feeling solid, and a loss will leave me feeling despondent. One game in either direction – especially one in June – shouldn’t carry that much weight. But, what can I say? I feels what I feels.
Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo flip-flop in the lineup for this one after each has been dealing with a little bit of a cold period. Maybe something small will help kickstart them.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (39-34) at St. Louis Cardinals (50-24), 7:05 CT on ESPN (and might be blacked out on MLB.tv).
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down there in the comments, so have fun.
The Series Preview lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Jason Hammel (2.65 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 3.17 xFIP; 5.75 K/BB)
versus
Carlos Martinez (2.89 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 3.14 xFIP; 2.61 K/BB)
St. Louis Cardinals Lineup
1. Kolten Wong, 2B
2. Matt Carpenter, 3B
3. Jhonny Peralta, SS
4. Jason Heyward, RF
5. Randal Grichuk, LF
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Xavier Scruggs, 1B
8. Jon Jay, CF
9. Carlos Martinez, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Dexter Fowler, CF
2. Kris Bryant, 3B
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Miguel Montero, C
5. Starlin Castro, SS
6. Chris Coghlan, LF
7. Chris Denorfia, RF
8. Jason Hammel, P
9. Addison Russell, 2B