Series Preview: Cubs at Tigers, May 14-16, 2021

The Chicago Cubs haven’t won a game in almost a week.

Of course, that’s just a three-game losing streak with two off-days baked in, but still, it feels like it’s been forever, because it has been forever. And while they are starting a three-game set against one of the worst teams in baseball today, the Tigers, those Tigers have won four straight and are throwing two lefties out there at a time when some of the Cubs best options against lefties are banged up or out.

The Cubs should get Nico Hoerner back as soon as today. And theoretically, Kris Bryant’s illness has had some time to dissipate (and the wrist plunking was hopefully not bad), but Javy Báez’s back has been acting up and Jake Marisnick is still out. It’s also bum timing, because Joc Pederson had just started to turn things around. And, sure, he has had some success against lefties here lately, but that’s certainly still his weakness. It just would’ve been nice to get him three straight no-brainer starts this weekend. Instead, I’m guessing we’ll see him against one of the lefties and the righty, but not the other.

June is right around the corner, and the Cubs better start winning if they want to avoid a mid-season sell-off. It starts with make sure to beat very beatable teams.

We’re Going Streaking

The Chicago Cubs (17-19) have dropped three straight games, just after poking their head above .500 for a breath of fresh air. They’ve dropped back down to fourth in the NL Central, 5.0 games behind the Cardinals in early May. Puke. The Detroit Tigers (13-24) are one of the worst teams in baseball, with a -64 run differential, however they’ve actually won four games in a row.

Game Times and Broadcasts Info

•   Friday, May 14th at 6:10 CT on MARQ,  670 The Score
•   Saturday, May 15th at 3:10 CT on MARQ, 670 The Score
•   Sunday, May 16th at 12:10 CT on MARQ, MLBN, 670 The Score

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Jake Arrieta (R) vs. Tarik Skubal (L)
Game 2: Trevor Williams (R) vs. Jose Ureña (R)
Game 3: Kyle Hendricks (R) vs. Matthew Boyd (L)

Chicago Cubs

•   C – Willson Contreras
•   1B – Anthony Rizzo
•   2B – Nico Hoerner
•   3B – Kris Bryant
•   SS – Javy Baez
•   LF – Joc Pederson
•   CF – Ian Happ
•   RF – Jason Heyward
•   DH – Whoever’s healthy …

Unavailable: Jonathan Holder, Trevor Megill, Shelby Miller, Rowan Wick, Dan Winkler, Austin Romine, Jake Marisnick

*Technically, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, and Jake Arrieta are all still on the IL at the time of writing this, but Arrieta is scheduled to pitch tonight and the other two are hopefuls for this weekend.

Detroit Tigers

•   C – Jake Rogers
•   1B – Jonathan Schoop/Miguel Cabrera
•   2B – Willi Castro
•   3B – Jeimer Candelario
•   SS – Niko Goodrum
•   LF – Robbie Grossman
•   CF – JaCoby Jones
•   RF – Nomar Mazara
•   DH – Miguel Cabrera/Nomar Mazara

Unavailable: Derek Holland, Erasmo Ramirez, Grayson Greiner, Wilson Ramos

By the Numbers:

Run Differential:
Cubs: -7 (21st)
Tigers: -64 (28th)

Runs Scored Per Game:
Cubs: 4.44 (13th)
Tigers: 3.43 (29th)

Runs Allowed Per Game:
Cubs: 4.64 (25th)
Tigers: 5.16 (27th)

Keep An Eye Out For …

Oh, I remember that guy. Jeimer Candelario was traded from the Cubs to the Tigers as part of a broader deal for Justin Wilson and Alex Avila back in 2017. And although it wasn’t until 2020 that his breakout began, it did begin in earnest: .297/.369/.503 (136 wRC+) in 52 games last season and he’s continued it here in 2021: .284/.356/.396 (116 wRC+). His walk rate routinely sits in the double digits, his strikeout rate is manageable, his hard hit rate is down a bit this year, but he’s very good at elevating the ball and so hits a lot of line drives.

Hall of Famer. Miguel Cabrera, 38, isn’t the guy he once was (which was arguably the most feared hitter in MLB for a good long time). But it’s still fun to watch any sure-fire Hall-of-Famers when you get the chance and that’s *exactly* what he is. First-ballot, should-be-unanimous, Hall-of-Famer. Besides Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, Cabrera is the only other active player with more than 70 WAR in his career and he ranks 58th in WAR all-time. Meanwhile, the Cubs haven’t had a *sure-fire* future Hall-of-Famer on their roster since … Greg Maddux? Am I forgetting someone? Sure, Jon Lester has a shot, Craig Kimbrel and Ben Zobrist might have a shot, but it’s been a loooooooong time since the Cubs have had a no-doubt future Hall-of-Famer on the roster and I just appreciate watching those guys play.

First-Homer Rematch. When Ian Happ hit the first pitch of the 2018 season out of the ballpark (and sent me into Lake Michigan), he hit it off Jose Ureña (then) of the Marlins. But Ureña, 29, didn’t have the career many projected, and so he was DFA’d this past offseason and picked up by the Tigers. So far, he’s gotten some good results in Detroit (3.60 ERA), but his 18.0% strikeout rate and 10.5% walk rate paint a different picture. He’s also allowing a ton of hard contact, albeit mostly on the ground. If the Cubs can find a way to elevate, they’ll crush him. If not, they’ll be subject to the BABIP gods.

written by

Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

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