Aaaaaand we’re back. After taking down the Cardinals in a 3-game series in St. Louis (and resting up during yesterday’s scheduled day off), the Cubs are back in Chicago to host the Reds for three straight at Wrigley Field.
Keegan Thompson is on the mound tonight, following two really excellent starts against the Braves and Pirates (combined): 12.0 IP, 1ER, 3BB, 16Ks. Though that came after two horrible starts against the Yankees and Orioles (combined): 3.2 IP, 8H, 10ER, 4BB, 1K.
So what changed? Well, the short answer is that Thompson made some mechanical tweaks after the two rough starts. He also attacked the zone more often, used more four-seamers, and didn’t try to conserve himself for a longer outing.
“We know his potential. We know what he’s got,” Yan Gomes said, per Cubs.com. “He’s got plus-plus pitches on every angle. I think sometimes when you see guys making that transition, they tend to try to pace themselves. And that just seemed to be one of the conversations that we were having today, and even before that: ‘Don’t pace yourself. Come out, give it all you’ve got. And if you start running out of gas, we’ll take you out.’”
So look for more four-seamers in the zone tonight and a fastball closer to 94 MPH+ than 92-93 MPH.
Luis Castillo had gone on a nice little stretch from May 20 – June 15 (2.72 ERA over 6 starts and 36.1 IP), but he allowed four earned runs over 5.0 innings against the Dodgers his last time out with three walks. Overall, he’s having a very fine season, though, with a 3.71 ERA over his first nine starts.
One of those starts, by the way, was against the Cubs at Great American Ballpark: 5.0 IP, 4H, 2ER, 1BB, 6Ks.
Game Info
Cincinnati Reds (25-48) at Chicago Cubs (28-45) – Tuesday, June 28 at 7:05 CT on MARQ, 670 The Score
Starting Pitchers
Reds: Luis Castillo, RHP
Cubs: Keegan Thompson, RHP
Chicago Cubs (Lineup Discussion):
- Christopher Morel, CF
- Rafael Ortega, RF
- Willson Contreras, DH
- Ian Happ, LF
- Patrick Wisdom, 3B
- Nico Hoerner, SS
- Yan Gomes, C
- Alfonso Rivas, 1B
- David Bote, 2B
Cincinnati Reds:
- Jonathan India, 2B
- Brandon Drury, 3B
- Tommy Pham, LF
- Joey Votto, 1B
- Donovan Solano, DH
- Kyle Farmer, SS
- Albert Almora Jr., RF
- Nick Senzel, CF
- Aramis Garcia, C