By the you’ll be reading this article, I’ll be posted up at Rizzo’s Bar and Inn across the street from Wrigley Field, waiting to make my way over and take in my first game in about a month (I know, it’s been way too long). I’ll be sitting along the first base side tonight, taking in all the glory of my first live Cole Hamels start. I sure hope he keeps it up.
As I’m sure you know by now, Hamels has been lights out for the Cubs since joining the team at the deadline and so far, he’s done it in sustainable, believable ways. I don’t want to jinx it, but Hamels may be the best pitcher in the history of baseball and will probably never give up a single hit or run for the rest of his Cubs career.
Starting opposite Hamels tonight is my arch nemesis (for spelling-related reasons), Anthony DeSclafani.
DeSplatoni, 28, has taken a pretty big step backwards this season, after showing some promising peripherals two years and even better results last year. In particular, he has allowed a ton of fly balls this season (37.4%) and even more hard contact (42.3%). With that said, he’s still more than capable of tossing a gem, like he has the last three times out:
V. Giants: 7.2 IP, 6H, 1ER, 1BB, 5K
V. D-Backs: 7.0 IP, 3H, 0ER, 0BB, 9K
@ Nationals: 7.0 IP, 6H, 1ER, 1BB, 2K
But the three starts before that we’re almost as bad as those were good. So who knows which guy we’ll get tonight. I can say, however, that Daniel Murphy and his left-handed bat should be a big help. I’d also expect a good game from Kyle Schwarber, who’s actually been a whole lot better lately than we’ve realized.
Okay, time to schedule this post and get to Wrigleyville. See you there.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (72-53) vs. Cincinnati Reds (56-71) – Thursday, August 23rd at 7:05 CT on CSN-C, 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: Cole Hamels (L): 0.72 ERA, 2.40 FIP; 3.83 K/BB
versus
Reds: Anthony DeSclafani (R): 4.12 ERA, 4.86 FIP; 4.02 K/BB
Cincinnati Reds:
- Billy Hamilton, CF
- Jose Peraza, SS
- Scooter Gennett, 2B
- Eugenio Suarez, 3B
- Phillip Ervin, RF
- Tucker Barnhart, 1B
- Dilson Herrera, LF
- Curt Casali, C
- Anthony DeSclafani, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Daniel Murphy, 2B
- Javy Baez, SS
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Ben Zobrist, RF
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Ian Happ, CF
- Victor Caratini, C
- Cole Hamels, P
- David Bote, 3B