6/2 - Cubs (Taillon) vs Padres (Wacha): 8:40pm, Marquee

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's the underperforming Cubs vs the underperforming Padres! Two teams enter, one must win!

Also, this is the free MLB.tv game of the day for those who are interested in such things.

[CubinNY]

It’s no longer early, but it’s also not too late. The Cubs must have a good 10 game road trip out West if they want to have any chance at postseason play. 
 

by good I mean better than .500. 6 and 4 would be good. 7-3, outstanding. Anything beyond that is too much to hope for. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

4 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

It’s no longer early, but it’s also not too late. The Cubs must have a good 10 game road trip out West if they want to have any chance at postseason play. 

by good I mean better than .500. 6 and 4 would be good. 7-3, outstanding. Anything beyond that is too much to hope for. 

I'd be happy with 5-5. None of the Padres, Angels, or Giants are pushovers.

But at some point, the Cubs need to start winning and there just aren't many pushover in the NL so maybe you're right about 6-4.

[CubinNY]

BTW, the Smokies game is also free today. I think the games may overlap though. If you haven’t seen PCA play it’s worth the watch. 
 

edit: the games probably will not overlap 

Edited June 2 by CubinNY

[CubinNY]

Mervis not in the lineup. 

[Irrelevant Dude]

Playing Mervis twice a week isn't enough. I know he has struggled, but if he's up here, he needs to be getting a chance to figure things out.

[CubinNY]

My biggest gripe with Ross after him letting his starters pitch to failure and making every bullpen appearance a high leverage situation, is his lineup construction. I know a lot of data goes into these decisions, but you kind of have to let Mervis and Morel play most days. 

Edited June 2 by CubinNY

[Nolansomebody]

 

Lineup for tonight. I find it somewhat odd that Tauchman is being played against a right-handed pitcher since he bats left, but he does have a batting average of .355

[Tryptamine]

Are they reaching historical levels of ineptitude with risp yet?

[Tryptamine]

1st and 3rd 1 out results in 1 run on a ball that was almost a double play. The next inning 1st and 2nd with no outs and nothing. How are they just completely inept with risp?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That's an encouraging inning from Taillon.  He's been weirdly horrific out of the stretch in particular, so to go to that for the first time facing 3-4 for the second time and set them down is progress.

[UMFan83]

7 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

1st and 3rd 1 out results in 1 run on a ball that was almost a double play. The next inning 1st and 2nd with no outs and nothing. How are they just completely inept with risp?

They have a .517 OPS this year with runners on 1st and 2nd and a .449 OPS with the bases loaded.  

[Squirrel]

Quiet in here tonight … is everyone at the Taylor Swift concert?

[Nolansomebody]

33 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Quiet in here tonight … is everyone at the Taylor Swift concert?

Wait, that was in Chicago tonight?

[Tryptamine]

This is the single most boring Cub team I can recall.  No stars, no exciting young guys in the lineup everyday to dream on. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

11 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

This is the single most boring Cub team I can recall.  No stars, no exciting young guys in the lineup everyday to dream on. 

Swanson is a Top 10 position player by fWAR

[mfcubs22]

I know we don’t have many great bullpen options but Merryweather pitching in a 1 run game in the 8th seems destined for failure. 

[UMFan83]

A close game late, our specialty. I’m sure we’ll pull it out right

[soccer10k]

Off to a great start in the 8th.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Well, we found our closer. But how long can he survive having to throw 2 innings in every close game?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

just immense stuff, Alzolay

[soccer10k]

Well that was a pleasant and unexpected surprise.

[TomtheBombadil]

Alzolay’s been legit this season

[Irrelevant Dude]

Good thing Ross got Mancini's bat in the lineup.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

yeesh Mancini has looked cooked this year, really need him to show some signs of life