It looks like the Cubs and Cardinals will be able to get this one off after yesterday’s postponement. A win today, and you feel pretty good about this shortened, opening series – bathroom troubles and Opening Night loss and all.
Jake Arrieta makes his 2015 debut against a Cardinals team (plus Jason Heyward) that he dominated last year (.479 OPS against). On the other side, there’s Lance Lynn, who is just consistently good.
… but not quite as good against lefties as righties. For his career, Lynn has dominated righties to the tune of a 26.6% K rate, a 5.3% BB rate, a 2.52 FIP, and a .232/.286/.345 line against. He’s a perennial Cy Young contender against righties.
Against lefties, however, those numbers get ugly: 18.8% K rate, 12.5% BB rate, 4.46 FIP, and a .253/.355/.409 line against. The lesson there when facing Lynn? Stack your lineup with lefties, and make sure they’re extra patient that day.
So it happens, the Cubs’ lineup today sports six guys who can bat from the left-handed side (that’s likely why Mike Olt is sitting). In a single game, the numbers don’t always bear out. But this is a good matchup for the Cubs.
The Cardinals bring five lefties, themselves, but Arrieta’s split isn’t quite as pronounced, especially last year, when he was equally dominant against lefties and righties.
Game Info
St. Louis Cardinals (1-0) at Chicago Cubs (0-1), 1:20 CT on ABC-7 (or your local affiliate), and 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
Lance Lynn (2.74 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 3.81 xFIP; 2.51 K/BB (2014))
versus
Jake Arrieta (2.53 ERA, 2.26 FIP, 2.73 xFIP; 4.07 K/BB (2014))
St. Louis Cardinals Lineup
1. Matt Carpenter, 3B
2. Jason Heyward, RF
3. Matt Holliday, LF
4. Matt Adams, 1B
5. Jhonny Peralta, SS
6. Jon Jay, CF
7. Yadier Molina, C
8. Kolten Wong, 2B
9. Lance Lynn, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Dexter Fowler, CF
2. Jorge Soler, RF
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Starlin Castro, SS
5. Chris Coghlan, LF
6. Miguel Montero, C
7. Arismendy Alcantara, 2B
8. Jake Arrieta, P
9. Tommy La Stella, 3B