Pre-Gamin’: Angels at Cubs (7:05 CT) – Lineup, Broadcast Info, Game Tread
The Chicago Cubs have won eight straight contests and are going for nine tonight.
Jason Hammel takes the bump for the Cubs, pitching to an increasingly-improved Willson Contreras, behind the plate. In addition, Jorge Soler is taking a seat tonight for the first time since returning from the disabled list, as Javy Baez steps back into the lineup at third.
Opposing Hammel is righty Ricky Nolasco. Nolasco, 33, had some good years with the Marlins from 2008-2013 (18.5 fWAR during that stretch), but is a long way from that success now (2.9 fWAR from 2014-2016). He’s been able to stay healthy and continue pitching here in 2016 (22 starts, 130.2 IP), but has struggled from day one (5.23 ERA, 4.47 FIP). He hardly walks anyone (5.3%), but he is not much of a strikeout artist either (17.6%), so look for the Cubs to be aggressive and do most of their damage by swinging the bat.
Like last night, first pitch is at 7:05.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (70-41) at Los Angeles Angels (49-63), 7:05 CT on CSN-C+, 670 The Score.
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun this afternoon.
The Series Preview lives here. The Lineup Discussion lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Jason Hammel (R): 3.07 ERA, 4.27 FIP, 4.25 xFIP; 2.70 K/BB
versus
Angels: Ricky Nolasco (R): 5.23 ERA, 4.47 FIP, 4.45 xFIP; 3.34 K/BB
Los Angeles Angels Lineup:
- Yunel Escobar, 3B
- Kole Calhoun, RF
- Mike Trout, CF
- Albert Pujols, 1B
- Andrelton Simmons, SS
- Ji-Man Choi, LF
- Geovany Soto, C
- Ricky Nolasco, P
- Gregorio Petit, 2B
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Dexter Fowler, CF
- Kris Bryant, LF
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Ben Zobrist, 2B
- Addison Russell, SS
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Willson Contreras, C
- Javy Baez, 3B
- Jason Hammel
