NEWSLETTER
The Cubs are going for the sweep tonight and their shot at 20 games over .500 for the first time all year. That’s fun.
To get there, the Cubs will need Jose Quintana to build off his last start, which featured 6.0 innings of one-run baseball, only 4 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts. The good news is that he’s gone at least six innings in four of his last four of his last five starts with game scores over 60 in three of them. The bad news is that the Cardinals tagged him for six runs in three innings on three walks and a homer just two games ago. Hopefully, this roller coaster keeps going up tonight. In fact, let’s hope we never see that drop again.
Starting opposite Quintana is someone who’s name is just so silly, Heath Fillmyer, that I’m going to call him Jar Jar Binks, instead, because it sounds less ridiculous.
Mr. Binks, 24, is a rookie this year and has made just four starts this season (to go along with four relief appearances). He’s had a tough time striking people out, but he’s had an even tougher time keeping the walks to the minimum. Normally, I’d say “swing away,” but Binks has a really good ground ball rate and has actually limited contact well this season. So really, the Cubs should just take those free passes and see what happens.
Other than that, uh … let’s go Cubs!
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (66-47) at Kansas City Royals (34-79) – Wednesday, August 8th at 7:15 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: Jose Quintana (L): 4.12 ERA, 4.61 FIP; 1.94 K/BB
versus
Royals: Heath Fillmyer (R): 3.86 ERA, 4.84 FIP; 1.20 K/BB
Kansas City Royals:
- Whit Merrifield, 2B
- Alex Gordon, LF
- Salvador Perez, DH
- Hunter Dozier, 3B
- Lucas Duda, 1B
- Jorge Bonifacio, RF
- Brett Phillips, CF
- Raul Mondesi, SS
- Drew Butera, C
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Jason Heyward, RF
- David Bote, 3B
- Tommy La Stella, DH
- Willson Contreras, C
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Ian Happ, CF
- Addison Russell, SS
