NEWSLETTER
[Reminder: if you’re going to the game, stop by the right field bleachers and say hey to the not-so-tall dude wearing a blue BN shirt and blue/yellow shoes. That dude is probably me.]
Welcome, Pirates, to the buzzsaw in Chicago.
The Cubs are playing as well as they have all year, and they’re doing it without their three most important players entering the season: Jeff Samardzija, Anthony Rizzo, and Starlin Castro. The latter two are still around, just injured, while Samardzija tries to pitch his way into the playoffs with the A’s.
Tsuyoshi Wada takes the mound today for the Cubs, continuing on his solid debut season in the States.
Game Info
Pittsburgh Pirates (71-68) at Chicago Cubs (64-76), 1:20 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
Vance Worley (3.01 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 3.63 xFIP; 3.75 K/BB)
versus
Tsuyoshi Wada (2.79 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 3.78 xFIP; 3.14 K/BB)
Pittsburgh Pirates Lineup
1. Josh Harrison, 3B
2. Jordy Mercer, SS
3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
4. Russell Martin, C
5. Starling Marte, LF
6. Gaby Sanchez, 1B
7. Neil Walker, 2B
8. Jose Tabata, RF
9. Vance Worley, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Arismendy Alcantara, CF
2. Javier Baez, SS
3. Luis Valbuena, 3B
4. Jorge Soler, RF
5. Chris Coghlan, LF
6. Welington Castillo, C
7. Logan Watkins, 2B
8. Chris Valaika, 1B
9. Tsuyoshi Wada, P
