Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Rockies (2:10 CT) – Lineup (Russell Scratched), Broadcast Info, Game Thread

May 10, 2017, by Michael Cerami Chicago Cubs

UPDATE: Cubs say they are hoping to get this one started at 3pm CT.

Despite getting their butts officially handed to them in the first half of the double header yesterday, the Cubs battled back for the second half and split the day. And, if you can believe it, they actually outscored the Rockies 12-11 between the two games. It doesn’t really feel like it, but the Cubs could win the series this afternoon.

Wouldn’t that be something (especially with the off-day tomorrow)?

Trying to ensure that win for the Cubs, is righty Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks is coming off three solid starts (17.1 IP), wherein he’s worked a 1.04 ERA (albeit with a 3.53 FIP). To be sure, he’s been quite lucky with his entirely unsustainable 96.9% strand rate, but perhaps some extra confidence will lead to more success.

Opposing Hendricks and the Cubs, is the Rockies’ 22-year-old starter German Marquez. Marquez has made just three starts this season, but was successful in just one. His last start, for example, was a six-inning effort against Arizona, where he allowed five earned runs, off three walks and five hits (including two homers). For the season, he has just a 7.31 ERA (4.32 FIP). For his career, Marquez has actually shown a reverse split, although there is not much of a sample and both lefties and righties have hit him well. Hopefully, all of that holds up today.

The Cubs are going with another atypical lineup today, as Jon Jay leads off in place of Kyle Schwarber, who slides down to the third spot in the order as Anthony Rizzo takes a day off before an off-day (classic Joe Maddon move). Javy Baez, who remains hot, stays in the order and plays second base and Jeimer Candelario is still in the lineup batting cleanup and playing first.

A win today would feel especially nice, wouldn’t it?