9/1 - Cubs (Wicks/TBD) vs Reds (Ashcraft/TBD): 12:10pm/5:40pm, Marquee (Let's Play Two!)

[We Got The Whole 9]

3 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Is Greene officially starting?

Yup. The offense really set us up perfectly to navigate this DH and not wear out the staff for the rest of the series. 

[itisallpartoftheplan]

[UMFan83]

Come on Keegan.  I'm ok with challenging the hitters in this spot but he's leaving too much over the plate

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Come on Keegan, finish it off!

[Hunter]

W

[UMFan83]

10 games over .500 for the 8th time in 9 seasons.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2023

[We Got The Whole 9]

Brutal game from DLC lol 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Definitely need to see more footage of Bellinger hugging and chatting with Madrigal like a proud dad

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Wicks 2-0!

 

[itisallpartoftheplan]

1-0 in the Canario Era

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Brutal game from DLC lol 

Still think he'll be an all-star caliber player but the hype machine went crazy a little too soon.  The league has clearly adjusted to him.

[gflore34]

Well, all right, got one, so assured of the split, next is gravy.

[UMFan83]

Obviously we root for the Phillies tonight but really either outcome is going to be fine.  With a win tonight we will either be 1.5 games behind the Phillies for WC1 or 1.5 games behind the Brewers for the Central

Edited September 1, 2023 by UMFan83

[Transmogrified Tiger]

4 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Still think he'll be an all-star caliber player but the hype machine went crazy a little too soon.  The league has clearly adjusted to him.

Entering today he has a 70 wRC+ and 0.3 fWAR in 228 PA since the start of July.

[CubinNY]

Lol, they should offer Happ for Elly and see if they bite.

[UMFan83]

Fangraphs now has the Cubs playoff odds at just under 90% (89.8%) based on season to date numbers.  80.4% using their projections.

[soccer10k]

12 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Obviously we root for the Phillies tonight but really either outcome is going to be fine.  With a win tonight we will either be 1.5 games behind the Phillies for WC1 or 1.5 games behind the Brewers for the Central

I posted this the other day but any result other than Mil winning 2 of 3 is okay for us, right? Like even Milwaukee sweeping and we can close ground on WC1 and a home series.

[Irrelevant Dude]

2 minutes ago, soccer10k said:

I posted this the other day but any result other than Mil winning 2 of 3 is okay for us, right? Like even Milwaukee sweeping and we can close ground on WC1 and a home series.

If the Cubs can win 3 out of 4 against the Reds, then it really doesn't matter. They will either gain a lot of ground on one team, or a little on both.

[soccer10k]

15 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

If the Cubs can win 3 out of 4 against the Reds, then it really doesn't matter. They will either gain a lot of ground on one team, or a little on both.

Would definitely be different under the old format. But the Cental winner and WC1 both get a home series and there doesn’t seem to be a difference in playing LA or Atl if you advance. 

[champaignchris]

Wow.  Go into court for a hearing and walk out to some good news!

The pen is lined up perfectly for game 2. 
Just need 3, 2 and 2 innings from some combination of Greene, Smyly and Wesneski and then close out with Leiter and Alzolay. Then head into Saturday in relatively good shape for the rest of the series. 

Edited September 1, 2023 by champaignchris

[NorthsideAvenger]

Keegan being a weapon would be great. 

[UMFan83]

10 minutes ago, soccer10k said:

Would definitely be different under the old format. But the Cental winner and WC1 both get a home series and there doesn’t seem to be a difference in playing LA or Atl if you advance. 

I know its like "how do you want to die" but I think I'd rather play the Dodgers.  I like our hitters matchups against their pitchers more and their offense is not quite as deep as the Braves.  Heavy underdogs against either of course, but I think we'd have better odds of pulling off an upset against LA.

[Andy]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

I know its like "how do you want to die" but I think I'd rather play the Dodgers.  I like our hitters matchups against their pitchers more and their offense is not quite as deep as the Braves.  Heavy underdogs against either of course, but I think we'd have better odds of pulling off an upset against LA.

I agree, could be some recency bias in play but facing the Braves was utterly terrifying even though we managed to take 2 of 3.

[bukie]

Cubs have now tied their season series with the Reds.

[UMFan83]

Reds announce Lyon Richardson as their game 2 starter.  He has an 8.59 ERA in 2 starts for Cincinnati this year and pitched 7.1 innings in those 2 starts.

He started the season in low A, was promoted to AA where he raked (2.15 ERA in 15 starts, though only ~3 innings per start).  Had 3 OK outings in AAA (3.60 ERA in 10 innings) and is now up in the majors.