NEWSLETTER
WE ARE BACKKKK!
We are so back and I’m dying for some baseball. I don’t know how we do it in the offseason, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for it to start back up already. And we don’t even have to wait that long, because there’s a 1:20 start time today and all weekend. So basically, my weekend looks like this: wake up, eat, watch baseball.
I think I can handle that. Go Cubs.
P.S.
They’re playing the Pirates at Wrigley. Probably should’ve mentioned that. Hopefully there’s no carryover from the ugliness at the end of their last series.
We’re Going Streaking
The Chicago Cubs (47-43) did not enter the All-Star break on their highest note, but somehow still parked themselves in first place. Lucky them?
The Pittsburgh Pirates (44-45) finished the first-half of the season under .500, but they’re just 2.5 games out of first place for crying out loud. Heck – they might still think they contend (and they’d be right!). Let’s hope they feel differently come the end of the weekend, as opposed to, uh, like, having passed the Cubs in the standings.
Game Times and Broadcasts Info
Pitching Matchups
Game 1: Yu Darvish (R) v. Chris Archer (R)
Game 2: Jon Lester (L) v. Jordan Lyles (R)
Game 3: Jose Quintana (L) v. Trevor Williams (R)
Chicago Cubs
Unavailable: Xavier Cedeno, Carl Edwards Jr., Cole Hamels, Brandon Morrow, Allen Webster, Ben Zobrist
Pittsburgh Pirates
Unavailable: Francisco Cervelli, Gregory Polanco, Steven Brault, Keone Kela
Keep An Eye Out For …
Cubs Pitcher: Yu Darvish is throwing for the Cubs in the first game of this series, and I don’t think there’s a player on the team who could have as big of an impact on the Cubs’ second half if he were to play up to his full potential. The Cubs have gotten some usable starts out of him, but we’re long past due for an absolute gem. He’s capable of it. But he has to actually do it.
Cubs Player: Robel Garcia will have my eye most this weekend, because he remains a potentially fun, crucial, and somewhat surprisingly important piece of the puzzle for the 2019 season. The Cubs certainly aren’t counting on him, but he does have a chance to make an impact. Let’s see and hope that he can do it between now and the deadline.
Pirates Pitcher: The Cubs have drawn Jordan Lyles on Saturday, which should be good news for them. The last time they faced him – the Fourth of July – Lyles gave up 7 earned runs on 3 homers (10 total hits) and a walk. He did strike out seven that afternoon, but I don’t think he’d brag about it.
Pirates Player: Over the past 30 days it has actually been Bryan Reynolds (152 wRC+), Kevin Newman (148 wRC+), and Adam Frazier (145 wRC+) leading the Pirates offense, not the All-Star Josh Bell, who’s been no slouch himself (120 wRC+). Which is quite scary, right? Especially because the two guys behind them, Colin Moran (114 wRC+) and Starling Marte (107 wRC+), are both above-average hitters during that stretch and for the season, as well. The Pirates offense was HOT.
