Cubs (Assad) vs Pirates (Jones): 5/10/24, 5:40pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

After another quick start, the Pirates are fading fast, going 3-7 over their last ten. A chance for the Cubs to make hay in the division.

[CubinNY]

It would be nice to get a series victory or even a sweep. But in the immortal words of Han Solo, I got a bad feeling about this one. 

[Bertz]

Very little has gone right in Pittsburgh this year, but Jared Jones is pitching at like a 99th percentile level.  He is so good.  Today's going to have to be a 3-1 type game.

[JBears79]

Jared Jones and Paul Skenes back to back...thats gonna be interesting.

[WhyCantWeWin]

Livvy Dunne and Skenes are gonna be tough as nails of a matchup tomorrow. Really hope they can pull out a win here. You already know Skenes is going to strike out 20

[Bertz]

17 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Livvy Dunne and Skenes are gonna be tough as nails of a matchup tomorrow. Really hope they can pull out a win here. You already know Skenes is going to strike out 20

If it makes you feel better it's probably doubtful Skenes even faces 20.  He has been HEAVILY babied this year.

[We Got The Whole 9]

1 hour ago, JBears79 said:

Jared Jones and Paul Skenes back to back...thats gonna be interesting.

And again in less than a week. Pains me to say but it's plausible that we are at 500 when we face the Cardinals in 2 weeks. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

8 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

And again in less than a week. Pains me to say but it's plausible that we are at 500 when we face the Cardinals in 2 weeks. 

The Pirates are 3-4 in Jones starts, the over/under for combined IP in those Skenes outings is probably 8, and seeing the same pitcher twice in a week is almost certainly an advantage for the hitters.  They'll be above .500 at the start of the Cardinals if they win 1 game per series until then, I think they'll be alright.

EDIT:  Also, I've seen the "Jones + Skenes twice" thing repeated several times, but unless they go to a 6 man(possible, given Skenes' workload) they'd miss Jones in the 2nd series.

[We Got The Whole 9]

12 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

The Pirates are 3-4 in Jones starts, the over/under for combined IP in those Skenes outings is probably 8, and seeing the same pitcher twice in a week is almost certainly an advantage for the hitters.  They'll be above .500 at the start of the Cardinals if they win 1 game per series until then, I think they'll be alright.

EDIT:  Also, I've seen the "Jones + Skenes twice" thing repeated several times, but unless they go to a 6 man(possible, given Skenes' workload) they'd miss Jones in the 2nd series.

Fair points; not gonna regurgitate how I feel about the offense right now. Just hope the ace-level pitching across the rotation somehow continues.

[Illiterate Scholar]

At least the Pirates' offense is actually bad.

[Jason Ross]

28 minutes ago, Bertz said:

If it makes you feel better it's probably doubtful Skenes even faces 20.  He has been HEAVILY babied this year.

I expect the Pirates will let the gloves off a little. He was over 20 batters faced and 6 IP the second most recent outing and faced 17 and 19 in his other two starts (of his last three). If Skenes is pitching well, I think 20-23 hitters is probably on the table or around 5-6 IP. 

Hopefully the Cubs just give him a rude greeting regardless and knock him out in the third after 3+ runs.

[KCCub]

9 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

I expect the Pirates will let the gloves off a little. He was over 20 batters faced and 6 IP the second most recent outing and faced 17 and 19 in his other two starts (of his last three). If Skenes is pitching well, I think 20-23 hitters is probably on the table or around 5-6 IP. 

Hopefully the Cubs just give him a rude greeting regardless and knock him out in the third after 3+ runs.

His velo was down the last start after he pitched 6 the previous game. Gave up a homer on his slowest fastball of the season. At least worth noting since it was his first time pitching on 4 days rest. 

[Jason Ross]

11 minutes ago, KCCub said:

His velo was down the last start after he pitched 6 the previous game. Gave up a homer on his slowest fastball of the season. At least worth noting since it was his first time pitching on 4 days rest. 

He did. But I also remain skeptical of one game velo drops. Sometimes you're tired, or under the weather, or the gun is cold, or you're holding something back a bit...It's anecdotal. I'm not overly concerned in either way when I see those (same as one game velo bumps). I don't know why the velo dip, but I'd suspect it's just a blip more than anything. 

[Irrelevant Dude]

Any word yet what is going on with Taillon?  He hasn't started since 5/4 and the Cubs have Assad, Steele, and TBD lined up for the next 3 games.

[Bertz]

 

[chibears55]

57 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Any word yet what is going on with Taillon?  He hasn't started since 5/4 and the Cubs have Assad, Steele, and TBD lined up for the next 3 games.

Back issue, hoping he can pitch Sunday 

[chibears55]

I hope they dont plan on just going with Madrigal and Mastrobuoni while Swanson is out.

[WhyCantWeWin]

So they activated Suzuki and are not starting him? 

[Bertz]

Just now, WhyCantWeWin said:

So they activated Suzuki and are not starting him? 

Today was always supposed to be an off day after his two rehab games.  I think with the Swanson IL situation it just didn't make sense to call someone up for one day.

[ToolDRT]

That’s definitely a lineup. 

[chibears55]

Start of game delayed by rain

[JHBulls]

Weather delay? BOO!

[Bertz]

I literally cannot remember a series in Pittsburgh that was rain free.

[chibears55]

https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1789068996467138943?t=7v-RIDwj8mhxwJjITlr8Lg&s=19

[Illiterate Scholar]

Lol, Fangraphs has PCA with 5 DRS already in 119 innings

I mean he has to hit some but that makes for a high floor. This is a good stadium to have him in

Edited May 10, 2024 by Illiterate Scholar