Well, Kyle Hendricks looked better. Still a little low on the strikeouts, still a little high on the walks, but not outrageously so, and with the walks, the fact both came against Brandon Belt added some tolerability.
Other notes:
- Frank Schwindel was the only Cub to record a hit. He got two for his money, though, including a home run. He’s at a 169 wRC+ with a .425/.346 wOBA/xwOBA split.
- Trevor Megill and Michael Rucker had bad outings.
- Tommy Nance, up for Adam Morgan who’s on bereavement leave, had a good outing. He’s part of that whole 40-man crunch this offseason.
***
The Diaspora:
Anthony Rizzo homered again and shared a hug with Javy Báez, who had three hits as the Mets bested the Yankees. Ryan Tepera had a rough outing for the White Sox but Craig Kimbrel had a good one as Chicago’s American League team held off Boston. Jon Lester threw seven two-run innings, but may have had some luck, with two strikeouts, four walks, and two home runs allowed.
Around the Division:
The Reds beat the Cardinals, moving back to just percentage points behind the Padres for the final NL playoff spot.
Up Next:
Game 2
***
Whom:
Cubs vs. San Francisco
When:
1:20 PM Chicago Time
Where:
Wrigley Field
Weather:
Temperatures in the 80’s, wind blowing out at about fifteen miles per hour. Beautiful day, but potentially not for those pitching.
Starting Pitchers:
Zach Davies vs. Kevin Gausman
The Opponent:
Gausman has a 2.58 ERA, a 2.96 FIP, and a 3.45 xERA, good for 4.2 fWAR and 4.9 bWAR. He should reach 32 or 33 starts, with 200 innings not exactly likely but still possible.
In other words, an ace’s ace.
The Numbers:
The Cubs are +170 underdogs, with the Giants at -210 for an implied Chicago win probability of 35%. The over/under’s at ten and leans towards the over.
Cubs News:
Nothing too big. Kris Bryant’s still in town. Remember that guy?
Cubs Thoughts:
It’s not a good day for Davies on paper, but at the same time, it’s a bad recipe for Gausman, especially with a few guys on the Cubs who do make you pay for mistakes (for all their flaws).
