The Cubs unleashed an absolute WHOOPIN’ on the Phillies last night, scoring a season-high 17 runs, on the strength of six long balls and seven wonderful innings from Kyle Hendricks … and yet I missed every second of it at a (really fantastic and fun!) wedding.
Maybe they’ll do it again this afternoon.
After all, Nick Pivetta has the league’s worst ERA among pitchers with at least 90 IP this season, while also boasting a tiny 38.7 GB%. In a hitters friendly park like Citizens Bank (most homer friendly park in baseball this year) and against a lineup like the Cubs … whoof, I wouldn’t want that many balls in the air.
With that said, Lackey’s really solid stretch of pitching came to an end in Cincinnati earlier this week, when he allowed six earned runs in five innings. He, too, was bit by the home run bug in that one, so hopefully he can keep the ball on the ground this afternoon long enough for the offense to give him a cushion (and a W).
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (69-59) at Philadelphia Phillies (47-81) – 12:35 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: John Lackey (R): 4.90 ERA, 5.57 FIP, 4.74 xFIP; 2.68 K/BB
versus
Phillies: Nick Pivetta (R): 6.73 ERA, 5.26 FIP, 4.51 xFIP; 2.46 K/BB
Philadelphia Phillies:
- Cesita, 2B
- Toco, SS
- Nicky Dubs, RF
- Rhys, LF
- To Jo, 1B
- Compa F, 3B
- Florimon, CF
- Pavo, C
- Pivetta, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Zorilla, RF
- Schwarbs, LF
- KB, 3B
- Tony, 1B
- La Stella, 2B
- El Mago, SS
- J-Hey, CF
- Moncho, C
- Lack, P