The first time Scott Feldman faced the Cubs this season was at Wrigley Field. And in that one, he lasted just 2.2 innings, surrendered 7 runs (5 earned), on the strength of five quick hits and three walks. The Cubs won that game 7-5.
The second time Feldman faced the Cubs this season, however, things went much differently. In that one (which was at Great American Ballpark), Feldman went seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks, while striking out seven. The Cubs lost that game 0-5.
Hopefully, this afternoon’s contest goes a lot like the former and nothing at all like the latter, so the Cubs can win this winnable series they were supposed to win all along. Win.
Jon Lester is on the mound for the Cubs this afternoon, and he’s also faced the Reds twice this season. Also like Feldman, one was bad and one was good:
Start 1 (away): 5.2 IP, 9H, 5ER, 2BB, 4Ks
Start 2 (home): 6.0 IP, 6H, 3ER, 1BB, 5Ks
His second start was better across the board and shares yet another commonality: both pitchers and teams did better at home than on the road (I know, this is groundbreaking stuff here).
But hey, who knows, maybe (for once) history will hold true, Lester will pitch well, Feldman won’t, and the Cubs will win a home series against one of the worst teams in baseball, preventing all of us from becoming very angry. I’m betting it happens.
Go Cubs.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (63-56) at Cincinnati Reds (50-71)Â – 1:20 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: Jon Lester (L): 3.99 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 3.56 xFIP; 3.44 K/BB
versus
Reds: Scott Feldman (R): 4.43 ERA, 4.50 FIP, 4.04 xFIP, 2.63 K/BB
Cincinnati Reds:
- Billy Hamilton, CF
- Jose Peraza, SS
- Joey Votto, 1B
- Adam Duvall, LF
- Eugenio Suarez, 3B
- Scooter Gennett, 2B
- Phillip Ervin, RF
- Stuart Turner, C
- Scott Feldman, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Jon Jay, CF
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Ben Zobrist, RF
- Alex Avila, C
- Ian Happ, 2B
- Javy Baez, SS
- Jon Lester, P