We’re late with the posts today, and I’ve been bouncing around different feelings about last night’s comeback, so I guess here are a jumble of them:
- That was so much fun.
- Was that a comeback or a Cardinals collapse?
- I’d forgotten Ian Happ existed at points these last few weeks.
- That would’ve been so much fun if it mattered more.
- That was so much fun.
On the Happ thing: I didn’t realize how solid his career numbers are. Didn’t realize he managed a 128 wRC+ over that stretch of 2019, for example, once he was up with the big-league club. So odd how bad he’s been. Excited he came through.
The only other thing of much note was Kris Bryant leaving the game with “hamstring fatigue.” A hamstring’s a hard thing to hide, and this close to the deadline, if Bryant’s hamstring’s hurt it’s far more likely the Cubs won’t trade him than it currently is. Maybe that’d be a good thing, maybe not. All of this is vague enough that you can probably land wherever you want on the positive/negative split and have it justified. That said, I think you want Kris Bryant healthy no matter what and do not wish a hamstring injury upon him.
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Around the Division:
The Brewers lost! Hooray! They lost to the Royals and then they did it again today!!! Wow. Eight games back again. The Reds won last night but lost today.
Standings (no division probabilities because the day’s well underway):
1. Milwaukee: 56-41
2. Cincinnati: 49-47
T-3. Cubs: 47-48
T-3. St. Louis: 47-48
5. Pittsburgh: 36-60
Up Next:
Game 3
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Whom:
Cubs vs. St. Louis
When:
7:15 PM Chicago Time
Where:
Busch Stadium
Weather:
Temperatures in the 80’s to start the game, not a lot of wind.
Starting Pitchers:
Kyle Hendricks vs. Adam Wainwright
The Opponent:
Wainwright keeps humming, with a 4.07 FIP, a 4.21 xERA, and over 110 innings pitched entering tonight, upwards of six per start.
The Numbers:
The Cubs are +120 underdogs. Cardinals are at -130. That’s about a 43% win probability. Over/under’s at eight and leans towards the under.
Cubs News:
Matt Duffy’s reportedly back with the team, so we should see him activated tomorrow, though there’s a big question over who would be sent to AAA and who’d get bumped from the 40-man. I suppose Sergio Alcántara has already had that option exercised, so the Cubs might send him down. Curious if Jake Arrieta will be DFA’d, though Frank Schwindel’s probably the most likely. Anyway, if there’s a trade in the next 24 hours, it will clearly be because the Cubs want to make room for Matt Duffy.
Cubs Thoughts:
Go take that series lead.
