Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Marlins (6:10 CT) – Lineup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread
Woof. Four loses in a row is three too many loses in a row, AMIRIGHT?
Luckily for the Cubs, they have their ace, Kyle Hendricks, on the mound tonight (he says only half joking). As we discussed in the series preview earlier this week, Hendricks has pitched like one of the best starters in the league, keeping his ERA under 3.00 his ground ball rate near 55.0% (11th best in baseball) and his soft hit rate right at 29.0% – tops in the league.
Last time out, he struck out 12 batters and allowed 0 walks. Hopefully he can keep the good times going, while pitching to a new catcher tonight in Willson Contreras. Indeed, Contreras draws the start behind the plate, with Kris Bryant making an appearance at first base. And, the more you look at it, the more wacky this lineup gets. There’s no Dexter Fowler, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, Miguel Montero or Jorge Soler and there is a Willson Contreras, Albert Almora Jr. and Chris Coghlan (not to mention that Bryant is at first, while Javy Baez is at third). Weird.
Opposing Hendricks is righty Tom Koehler, who has allowed just two earned runs in his last 12 innings pitched, but also 7 walks. He’s been pretty split neutral for his career, with hitters from both sides keeping their wOBAs around .320, so the handedness of the Cubs lineup shouldn’t matter too much tonight.
The Cubs won’t keep losing, like forever, will they?
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (47-24) at Miami Marlins (39-34), 6:10 CT on CSN, 670 The Score.
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down there in the comments, so have fun. But keep it “safe for work” type fun, all right?
The Series Preview lives here. The Lineup Discussion lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (R): 2.94 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 3.39 xFIP; 3.84 K/BB
versus
Marlins: Tom Koehler (R): 3.92 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 4.86 xFIP; 1.48 K/BB
Miami Marlins Lineup:
1. Derek Dietrich, 2B
2. Martin Prado, 3B
3. Christian Yelich, LF
4. Marcell Ozuna, CF
5. Giancarlo Stanton, RF
6. Justin Bour, 1B
7. J.T. Realmuto, C
8. Adeiny Hechavarria, SS
9. Tom Koehler, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
1. Jason Heyward, RF
2. Kris Bryant, 1B
3. Ben Zobrist, 2B
4. Willson Contreras, C
5. Chris Coghlan, LF
5. Javy Baez, 3B
6. Addison Russell, SS
8. Kyle Hendricks, P
9. Albert Almora Jr.,
