Pre-Gamin’: Marlins at Cubs (1:20 CT) – Lineup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread
With a win last night, the Chicago Cubs clinched their sixth series victory since the All-Star Break. With a win this afternoon, they can clinch their first three-game sweep since June 27-29 against Cincinnati.
Luis and I will both be at the game today, sitting in Aisle 511, row 3. So make sure to keep an eye out and come say hey! if you see us.
The first two Cubs pitchers of this series (Kyle Hendricks and Jason Hammel) have combined to throw 15 innings of shutout baseball against the Marlins, so today’s pitcher, John Lackey, has a tough act to follow. His last time out, Lackey pitched a good game against the White Sox, lasting six innings, while giving up just one earned run. Today, he’ll pitch to Miguel Montero.
Opposing Lackey is right-hander Tom Koehler. Koehler, 30, hasn’t done much this season, besides stay healthy and make his starts. Through 114 innings pitched, he has just a 4.18 ERA and a 4.26 FIP. His strikeout rate is a way-too-low 17.8% and his walk rate is a definitely-too-high 10.8%. Let me put it differently, Koehler’s strikeout rate is less than half that of the starter the Cubs faced yesterday (Jose Fernandez). He is beatable, the Cubs just have to, you know, beat him.
First pitch is at 1:20. We’ll see you there.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (65-41) at Miami Marlins Mariners (57-50), 1:20 CSN-C, MLBN (out-of-market only), 670 The Score.
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down there in the comments, so let’s have some nice, clean, safe-for-work fun, eh?
The Series Preview lives here. The Lineup Discussion lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: John Lackey (R): 3.69 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 3.79 xFIP; 3.34 K/BB
versus
Marlins: Tom Koehler (R): 4.18 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 4.85 xFIP; 1.65 K/BB
Miami Marlins Lineup:
- Dee Gordon, 2B
- Martin Prado, 3B
- Christian Yelich, LF
- Giancarlo Stanton, RF
- Marcell Ozuna, CF
- Derek Dietrich, 2B
- Jeff Mathis, 1B
- Adeiny Hechavarria, SS
- Tom Koehler, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Dexter Fowler, CF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Ben Zobrist, 2B
- Willson Contreras, LF
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Miguel Montero, C
- Javy Baez, SS
- John Lackey P
