The Chicago Cubs are playing a late one tonight against the Padres, with the first pitch not scheduled until 9:10 CT.
When it does get underway, Jon Lester will take the ball for the Cubs, following four consecutive and awesome starts against the Mariners, A’s, Cardinals and Brewers.
During that stretch (25.2 IP), Lester allowed just five earned runs (1.75 ERA), while striking out twenty-eight batters (28.3%) and walking just five (5.1%). If tonight is anything like that stretch (or really the rest of his season), the Cubs will have a good shot of taking this game with just a few runs.
Opposing Lester is former Cub Edwin Jackson. Brett already wrote about the interesting match-up earlier today (as Jackson is in the final year of his original Cubs contract), but there is still a bit more to go over. For example, after throwing back-to-back nice starts against Pittsburg and Milwaukee in the first half of August (15.0 IP, 3 earned runs, 12 Ks, 3 BBs), Jackson landed a real clunker against the Rays just last week (4.0 IP, 8 earned runs, 3 BBs, 3 Ks).
So, just like his time spent with the Cubs, I’ll remind you that although he’s normally quite bad at pitching, he still has the stuff to spin a gem or two. Don’t get too frustrated, if that happens. After all, the Cubs can certainly get to him, can’t they?
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (78-45) at San Diego Padres (53-71), 9:10 CT on CSN-C, 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: Jon Lester (L): 2.86 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 3.56 xFIP; 3.56
versus
Padres: Edwin Jackson: (R): 5.36 ERA, 4.72 FIP, 5.41 xFIP; 1.36 K/BB
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San Diego Padres Lineup
1. Travis Jankowski, CF
2. Alexei Ramirez, SS
3. Will Myers, 1B
4. Alex Dickerson, LF
5. Christian Bethancourt, C
6. Patrick Kivlehan, RF
7. Adam Rosales, 3B
8. Luis Sardinas, 2B
9. Edwin Jackson, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Dexter Fowler, CF
2. Kris Bryant, LF
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Ben Zobrist, 2B
5. Addison Russell, SS
6. Jason Heyward, RF
7. Javier Baez, 3B
8. David Ross, C
9. Jon Lester, P