This is quite a series, isn’t it?
The Chicago Cubs are heading out on the road without a ton of their regular players to take on one of the best teams in the National League (including three of their toughest starting pitchers) in their home ballpark for four freakin’ games.
Here’s the bright side: If the Cubs manage to take three out of four, that’ll be a ridiculous success. So much so, I’d wager, that you might even feel a little optimistic about this particular team. Of course, it’s extremely hard to take three out of any four, let alone on the road and without a ton of regulars. So, I suppose we’ll have to wait and see on this one.
The Cubs are sending Eddie Butler to the hill tonight, though he’s had a pretty inconsistent start to his Cubs’ debut. Plus the Cubs are sending a whole bunch of youngsters out there today, as Anthony Rizzo is team’s oldest starter – which, what?!
Gio Gonzalez, the lefty, is starting opposite Butler and Willson Contreras is leading off. As we discussed earlier, Contreras has been killing lefties for his career, so perhaps that went into the calculus for tonight’s unusual lineup. With Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg lurking later this week, it would be wise of the Cubs to bank a win tonight. Hopefully, they can pull it off.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (38-37) at Washington Nationals (45-30) – 6:05 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 today.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Eddie Butler (R): 4.19 ERA, 4.48 FIP, 5.43 xFIP; 1.19 K/BB
versus
Nationals: Gio Gonzalez (L): 2.96 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 4.38 xFIP; 2.18 K/BB
Washington Nationals:
- Trea Turner, SS
- Brian Goodwin, LF
- Bryce Harper, RF
- Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
- Daniel Murphy, 2B
- Anthony Rendon, 3B
- Matt Wieters, C
- Michael A. Taylor, CF
- Gio Gonzalez, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Willson Contreras, C
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Kris Bryant, LF
- Ian Happ, 2B
- Javy Baez, SS
- Jeimer Candelario, 3B
- Albert Almora Jr., CF
- Eddie Butler, P
- Mark Zagunis, RF