When I started typing out this intro a moment ago, I accidentally/subconsciously/dyslexic-ly/hopefully wrote “Bryce Harper and the Chicago Cubs are welcoming the Nationals to Wrigley Field today,” but … not yet. Soon, perhaps. But not yet.
So, then … Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs are welcoming Bryce Harper and the Nationals to Wrigley Field this afternoon, for the first of a three-game weekend set.
The Cubs have flirted with .500 a lot in the second half, but have a chance to move ahead against a (formerly) struggling Washington Nationals team this weekend. Of course, winning this series will be hard, and with Max Scherzer going on Sunday, the Cubs would be wise to get out to an early lead with a win today.
Kyle Hendricks has been up and down over his past few games/all-season, but he has done two things very well lately: limiting walks, racking up strikeouts. In his last seven games, Hendricks has 40 strikeouts to just 5 walks. Keep keeping that up and things should start to break his way.
Jeremy Hellickson, meanwhile, is coming off several very mediocre, but not terrible, starts in a row against the Reds (50 GS), Marlins (40 GS), and Brewers (41 GS). He doesn’t really walk anyone and he doesn’t strike them out, but he does get plenty of ground balls and even more infield pop-ups, which is generally how he’s been able to succeed. Hopefully, then, the Cubs have something planned for him, because they could use a good winning streak, before things in the schedule start to get really tough.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (66-48) vs. Washington Nationals (59-56) – Friday, August 10th at 1:20 CT on CSNC, MLBN 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): 4.07 ERA, 4.36 FIP; 3.24 K/BB
versus
Nationals: Jeremy Hellickson (R): 3.56 ERA, 4.07 FIP; 4.54 K/BB
Washington Nationals:
- Adam Eaton, RF
- Trea Turner, SS
- Anthony Rendon, 3B
- Bryce Harper, CF
- Juan Soto, LF
- Ryan Zimmermann, 1B
- Daniel Murphy, 2B
- Spencer Kieboom, C
- Jeremy Hellickson, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Ben Zobrist, RF
- Jason Heyward, CF
- David Bote, 3B
- Kyle Schwarber, Guitar
- Willson Contreras, Drums
- Kyle Hendricks, Synth
- Addison Russell, SS