8/4 - Braves (Fried) vs Cubs (Hendricks): 1:20pm, Marquee

[Brock Beauchamp]

Now the Cubs face a real challenge. To say the Braves offense is intimidating is understating the situation. They've beat the hell out of every team I've seen them play.

[Derwood]

Key matchups this weekend:

KC @ PHI

MIA @ TEX 

PIT @ MIL 

WSH @ CIN 

ARZ @ MIN

LAD @ SD 

 

 

[bukie]

For me, this is the gravy series. Anything they get this weekend is gravy. Even if the worst case scenario happens, they get swept and CIN/MIL both sweep their opponents, the Cubs are still just 5.5 games out of first and no team left on the schedule is good.

[bukie]

Per Fangraphs based on season to date stats, the Cubs now have 69% odds to make the playoffs, which is...nice.

[CubinNY]

These games are interesting to me in the sense that the stakes don't seem to be as high. Seeing the team respond with good ABs and solid defense would be nice. What I hope doesn't happen is a letdown series where the team looks bad. 

[BearDown1223]

I love that we are catching the Braves right now.  This is the hottest we've been all year long.  The braves are the ultimate test to see if we can compete with the upper tier of the NL.  

If we can get this one today, not matter what happens from there, it will be a successful series.  

What's the weather look like? Is the wind blowing out today?  

[mfcubs22]

No Nico? Banged up?

[WhyCantWeWin]

6 minutes ago, mfcubs22 said:

No Nico? Banged up?

Maybe just an off day to rest

[bukie]

8 minutes ago, mfcubs22 said:

No Nico? Banged up?

Cubs only scored 5 runs last night, got to shake things up in the offense.

[mfcubs22]

Fair enough. You have 3 off days in the next 2 weeks, though and trying to make up ground with 53 games to go. I’d also prefer to put my best infield defense behind Kyle. 

[17 Seconds]

loser talk but i'd be okay with 1 out of 3

[JBears79]

Hopefully we can work some deep counts and get Fried out of the game early. He only went 70 pitches in his rehab outings

[Michael Busch Light]

Man this Braves lineup is something. Hendricks may need to pitch with a helmet on. 

[thawv]

20 minutes ago, JBears79 said:

Hopefully we can work some deep counts and get Fried out of the game early. He only went 70 pitches in his rehab outings

I'd rather ambush him and get him out of the game by scoring runs instead of pitch count.

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, thawv said:

I'd rather ambush him and get him out of the game by scoring runs instead of pitch count.

Shocking! I have never heard that you want guys to hit early in the count…..

[Derwood]

 

[UMFan83]

3 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

To say the Braves offense is intimidating is understating the situation. 

Runs per game since July 2nd:

Cubs - 6.8

Braves - 5.7

Who is intimidated of who?

[JBears79]

29 minutes ago, thawv said:

I'd rather ambush him and get him out of the game by scoring runs instead of pitch count.

Good point haha

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 hour ago, UMFan83 said:

Runs per game since July 2nd:

Cubs - 6.8

Braves - 5.7

Who is intimidated of who?

Fair enough!

[CubinNY]

getting fired up. I'm blacked out so it will be Pat and Ron for me this weekend. It's usually that way anyway.

[David]

9 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

getting fired up. I'm blacked out so it will be Pat and Ron for me this weekend. It's usually that way anyway.

These blackout rules are so dumb.  I'm guessing you have no way to watch the Atlanta broadcast, either?

[CubinNY]

Just now, David said:

These blackout rules are so dumb.  I'm guessing you have no way to watch the Atlanta broadcast, either?

You would be correct. I can't watch on MLB.TV because they push it my TV provider but I don't have the package for RSNs

[Jason Ross]

16 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

getting fired up. I'm blacked out so it will be Pat and Ron for me this weekend. It's usually that way anyway.

That's where I was these last 4 games.  I live 90 minutes south of Cincinnati, and no longer pay for cable, so I was stuck on some of online streaming sites....(which....if you'd like...feel free to ask....with a good popup blocker you'll be fine to watch on the computer)

Edited August 4, 2023 by 1908_Cubs

[David]

Let's goooo. 

 

Wish we had our IF defense at full strength with Kyle going.

[BearDown1223]

Kyle always seem to struggle in the first inning. Hopefully he starts off clean and rolls for 6-7 innings.