Mood: excellent.
Although I still want the Cubs to get a league-average allowance of night games, there’s something wonderful about a good old fashioned 1:20 Wrigley Field start time (especially when it’s on WGN). And when the Cubs have a chance to sweep an interleague-series in the middle of a hotly contested divisional playoff race in August, it’s all the sweeter.
So it is today, when the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks squares up against the Jays’ Marco Estrada in the third of three games at Wrigley Field.
Hendricks has now made five starts since returning from the Disabled List and he’s mostly been great (2.00 ERA, 3.32 FIP), as we examined right here. Indeed, his last start against a good Reds offense produced 6.0 scoreless innings with just five hits and six strikeouts scattered throughout. He did walk four batters, which wasn’t great, but hopefully he can reel that back in (of course, right now Hendricks may have to give up some command in exchange for additional fastball velocity).
As for Estrada, we discussed his reverse splits in the lineup post earlier today, so let’s take a look at how he’s been lately.
Estrada’s last start was a bad one against the Rays, in which he lasted just 4.1 innings while surrendering 6 earned runs on four walks and ten hits (including two homers). But before that one, he lasted 7.0 full innings in three straight starts, while allowing just a COMBINED 4 earned runs (and that includes starts against the Yankees and Astros). So, like the old version of Rose from the Titanic, he’s capable of tossing a gem. t
A win today would put the Cubs nine games over .500, which would tie their season-high. Let’s see if they can do it.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (64-57) at Toronto Blue Jays (59-63) – 1:20 CT on WGN, 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: Kyle Hendricks (R): 3.45 ERA, 4.14 FIP, 4.06 xFIP; 2.50 K/BB
versus
Blue Jays: Marco Estrada (R): 5.09 ERA, 4.54 FIP, 4.96 xFIP; 2.38 K/BB
Toronto Blue Jays:
- Ezequiel Carrera, RF
- Josh Donaldson, SS
- Justin Smoak, 1B
- Jose Bautista, 3B
- Miguel Montero, C
- Kevin Pillar, CF
- Ryan Goins, 2B
- Nori Aoki, LF
- Marco Estrada, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Albert Almora Jr., CF
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Ben Zobrist, 2B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Javy Baez, SS
- Tommy La Stella, 3B
- Rene Rivera, C
- Jon Jay, RF
- Kyle Hendricks, P