NEWSLETTER
Well, from the get-go, we said that leaving Miami with three out of four would feel great, given how hard it is to execute a four-game sweep on the road against *any* team, so I guess the Cubs have put themselves in a position to succeed …
… Even if it took a long time to get there:
The Chicago Cubs have played a total of 36 innings through the first three games of the year. Weird.
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) April 1, 2018
This afternoon, they’ll have a chance to shore up their first series win of the season, and they’ll do it behind Jose Quintana – a.k.a. the last of the “Maybe *he’s* actually the Cubs best starter.”Â
Like every other member of the Cubs rotation, Quintana had an excellent sub-3.00 ERA Spring Training, with a solid 13-4 K/BB ratio. However, let’s hope his first start of the regular season goes better (and deeper!) than some of his rotation-mates. I think it will.
Starting opposite Quintana is Marlins prospect Dillon Peters. Peters, 25, actually debuted last season (six starts, 5.17 ERA), but wasn’t a lock for the rotation this year, until some injuries opened up space.
As for the Spring … with nine walks and nine strikeouts plus a 4.70 ERA, he didn’t get off to a great start, but there’s still promise in that arm (he’s the Marlins #15 prospect according to MLB Pipeline), and you can never sleep on a guy with whom the Cubs are almost entirely unfamiliar. Ultimately, it’s hard not to give the edge to the Cubs today, but it’s baseball. So, who knows.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (2-1) at Miami Marlins (1-2)Â – 12:10 CT on NBC Sports Chicago, 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: Jose Quintana (L): 4.15Â ERA, 3.68 FIP; 3.39 K/BB (2017 stats)
versus
Marlins: Dillon Peters (R): 5.17Â ERA, 4.69 FIP; 1.42 K/BBÂ (2017 stats)
Miami Marlins Lineup:
- Lewis Brinson, CF
- Derek Dietrich, LF
- Starlin Castro, 2B
- Justin Bour, 1B
- Brian Anderson, 3B
- Cameron Maybin, RF
- Miguel Rojas, SS
- Bryan Holaday, C
- Odrisamer Despaigne, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Albert Almora, CF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Addison Russell, SS
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Victor Caratini, C
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Jose Quintana, P
