NEWSLETTER
Like I said in the Bullets, today’s game carries with it an atypical weight for a mid-May contest:
Today’s game is just one game. Every game is just one game. This one technically carries more weight only insofar as it could be a two-game swing against a team competing with the Cubs at the top of the division later this year. But narratively speaking – “in your gut” speaking – this one feels like a whole lot more than that.
The Cubs’ short-handed bats will have to find a way to finally start getting hits with runners on base, and Jake Arrieta will have to find a way to stop giving up so many runs. I know that second one seems overly simple, and it kind of is: to the eye and by the advanced numbers, Arrieta has pitched fairly well at most times this year. It’s just … he keeps giving up a ton of runs in each start. It’s tremendously un-fun, and I’m sure the defense has at least something to do with it. If Arrieta has an outing in him where he simply takes over, today would be as good as any for it.
At least the Cubs get Addison Russell back for this one.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (18-18) at St. Louis Cardinals (20-15) – 1:15 CT on WGN-9, MLBN (out of market), 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 today.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Jake Arrieta (R): 5.35 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 3.53 xFIP; 3.67 K/BB
versus
Cardinals: Adam Wainwright (R): 6.37 ERA, 3.79 FIP, 3.78 xFIP; 2.54 K/BB
St. Louis Cardinals:
- Kolten Wong, 2B
- Tommy Pham, LF
- Matt Carpenter, 1B
- Jedd Gyorko, 3B
- Yadier Molina, C
- Aledmys Diaz, SS
- Randal Grichuk, RF
- Magneuris Sierra, CF
- Adam Wainwright, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Ian Happ, RF
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Addison Russell, SS
- Miguel Montero, C
- Tommy La Stella, 3B
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Jake Arrieta, P
- Albert Almora, CF
