NEWSLETTER
Last October, the Cubs didn’t face an elimination game until Game 5 of the World Series, but here we are in Game 5 of the NLDS, staring down the barrel of an early exit. Let’s see if they can push through the Nationals and advance to their third consecutive NLCS.
Starting for the Cubs tonight is Game One starter, Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks has been in plenty of big situations before (Game 7 of the World Series, Game 6 of the NLCS, 2008 Senior Prom), and he’s always come through – let’s see if he has it in him one more time.
Facing the same team twice isn’t easy, but Hendricks twirled a gem against the Nationals in Game one: 7.0 IP, 2H, 3BB, 6Ks.
And, hey, Gio Gonzalez, the Nationals’ starter (for now), has to do the same thing. His start against the Cubs in Game Two was pretty good (5.0 IP, 3H, 3ER, 2BB, 6Ks), but not quite as good as Hendricks. With that said, the Cubs changed up their bats a bit this time around, bringing in Jason Heyward and Jon Jay, while subtracting Ian Happ and Ben Zobrist. It’s hard to really say how big of a hit the offense will really take, but the outfield defense is MUCH improved.
It’s a big-boy game tonight. Let’s see if the Cubs can keep playing.
Game Info
Washington Nationals (2-2) at Chicago Cubs (2-2) – 7:08 CT on TBS, 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): 3.03 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 3.76 xFIP; 3.08 K/BB
versus
Nationals: Gio Gonzalez (L): 2.96 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 4.24 xFIP; 2.38 K/BB
Washington Nationals:
- Trea Turner, SS
- Jayson Werth, LF
- Bryce Harper, RF
- Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
- Daniel Murphy, 2B
- Anthony Rendon, 3B
- Matt Wieters, C
- Michael Taylor, CF
- Gio Gonzalez, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Jon Jay, LF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Willson Contreras, C
- Albert Almora Jr., CF
- Addison Russell, SS
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Kyle Hendricks, P
