Thanks to the Brewers losing not once, but twice today, the Cubs enter tonight’s contest with a four-game lead in the loss column over Milwaukee. They still have two fewer wins than the Brewers going into tonight, too, but that’s a 1.0-game lead that could stretch to 1.5 games with a win.
And if Kyle Hendricks pitches anything like he did the last time out (8.1 IP, 5H, 0ER, 1BB, 8Ks) then the Cubs should have no problem. Hendricks has had an up and down first half, but if he delivers again tonight, I think we’ll all breathe a little easier about the state of the Cubs rotation at the top.
Luis Perdomo is starting opposite Hendricks tonight, and he’s had a rough go of it through six starts this season (7.09 ERA). His peripherals are much stronger in general (4.15 FIP), but you walk (16) nearly as many batters as you strike out (20), it’s usually not luck keeping you down. Hopefully, the Cubs make it hurt.
It’s another late one tonight – and the Cubs will finish the evening in first place no matter what – but a win could give them a nice lead as we look ahead to the last game of the first half tomorrow.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (53-38) at San Diego Padres (40-57) – ABC-7, MLBN (out-of-market), 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): 3.93 ERA, 4.55 FIP; 2.58 K/BB
versus
Padres: Luis Perdomo (R): 7.09 ERA, 4.14 FIP; 1.25 K/BB
San Diego Padres:
- Travis Jankowski, RF
- Carlos Asuaje, 2B
- Wil Myers, LF
- Eric Hosmer, 1B
- Reyes, RF
- A.J. Ellis, C
- Christiran Villanueva, 3B
- Freddy Galvis, SS
- Luis Perdomo, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Ian Happ, CF
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Addison Russell, SS
- Victor Caratini, C
- Kyle Hendricks, P