Cubs (Boyd) vs Nationals (Gore): 6/4/25, 5:45pm

[Brandon Glick]

With great pride, I can announce that your Chicago Cubs have the best record in the National League through 60 games.

Start the playoffs now? Wouldn't be the first time in recent memory we had a 60-game season...

[Bertz]

This next 8 games is *rough*.  Gore tonight, then @Tigers (where we draw Skubal and Flaherty) and @Phillies (where we draw Luzardo and Wheeler)

It immediately mellows out again with the Pirates, but this is probably the hardest short stretch of the year.

[We Got The Whole 9]

3 minutes ago, Bertz said:

This next 8 games is *rough*.  Gore tonight, then @Tigers (where we draw Skubal and Flaherty) and @Phillies (where we draw Luzardo and Wheeler)

It immediately mellows out again with the Pirates, but this is probably the hardest short stretch of the year.

Until the Pirates call up Chandler just for us

[gflore34]

21 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Until the Pirates call up Chandler just for us

And Skenes, Cubs seem to draw him for every Pirates series.

Edited June 4, 2025 by gflore34

[gflore34]

22 minutes ago, Bertz said:

This next 8 games is *rough*.  Gore tonight, then @Tigers (where we draw Skubal and Flaherty) and @Phillies (where we draw Luzardo and Wheeler)

It immediately mellows out again with the Pirates, but this is probably the hardest short stretch of the year.

Thought someone mentioned they'll miss Wheeler I hope so, Gore, Skubal, Luzardo very diificult, I think they'll handle Flaherty.

[We Got The Whole 9]

All they need is to scrape a couple across against those pitchers and get to the pen by the 6th. They have absolutely slaughtered bullpens this year. 

[gflore34]

Happ, Hoerner,  Kelly (1 AB), Suzuki, Swanson and Tucker all with big numbers vs. Gore maybe, this match up is a little more favorable than we think.  They'll get to Gore enough to force the Nationals to go to their bullpen.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Just now, gflore34 said:

Happ, Hoerner,  Kelly (1 AB), Suzuki, Swanson and Tucker all with big numbers vs. Gore maybe, this match up is a little more favorable than we think.  They'll get to Gore enough to force the Nationals to go to their bullpen.

Tucker probably isn't playing.

 

Interestingly, from a cursory look, Gore's batted ball rates have trended the wrong way this year, but he's getting far more chase and whiffs. Stuff+ says he's a little above average but only due to his 4s and cutter. His offspeed pitches are meh. Apparently he just started throwing the cutter and it's been a very good pitch so far, 

[Bertz]

7 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Tucker probably isn't playing.

 

Interestingly, from a cursory look, Gore's batted ball rates have trended the wrong way this year, but he's getting far more chase and whiffs. Stuff+ says he's a little above average but only due to his 4s and cutter. His offspeed pitches are meh. Apparently he just started throwing the cutter and it's been a very good pitch so far, 

Gore's batted ball data is worse than Brown's.  Which is not to say Brown's is good but to show what a more reasonable expectation is for a guy with sterling peripherals and poor batted ball data (underperforming your FIP by ~half a run)

[Rcal10]

Cubs may be facing Gore, which could be tough. But the Nats are facing Boyd, which will be tough for them. No reason the Cubs can’t win this one. 

[BKHoo]

We were set to miss Wheeler but then he took paternity leave and now it’s up in the air. 

[Tryptamine]

Crush the nationals playoff hopes and don't leave Washington without Gore.

[BKHoo]

Is Kyle expected to play today?

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, BKHoo said:

Is Kyle expected to play today?

I don’t think so. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

19 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

Is Kyle expected to play today?

I wouldn't be surprised to not see him this series. He could use a good reset, get back to the pulled-flyball machine he has been, hopefully. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

Crush the nationals playoff hopes and don't leave Washington without Gore.

Well Levine did say the Cubs are aggressively trying to trade for a starter. 

[BKHoo]

11 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

Well Levine did say the Cubs are aggressively trying to trade for a starter. 

Gore has to be almost off limits.  Lots of team control + he is young and rising with the rest of their roster. 

[Tryptamine]

25 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

Gore has to be almost off limits.  Lots of team control + he is young and rising with the rest of their roster. 

The cost would certainly be high, but how many teams can offer what the Cubs can as far as multiple immediately MLB ready players that are legit prospect. 

[Rcal10]

16 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

Gore has to be almost off limits.  Lots of team control + he is young and rising with the rest of their roster. 

I agree. I have heard his name before and I just don’t see why the Nats would trade him. 

[gflore34]

43 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

The cost would certainly be high, but how many teams can offer what the Cubs can as far as multiple immediately MLB ready players that are legit prospect. 

Guys such Gore and Skenes would have super high price tags, maybe, even higher with Skenes.  I want Jed to be aggressive - Alcantara, etc. - but, Gore and Skenes would cost too much and, being pitchers, are very risky.

Edited June 4, 2025 by gflore34

[NorthsideAvenger]

39 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

Gore has to be almost off limits.  Lots of team control + he is young and rising with the rest of their roster. 

Of course. I thought Levine was thinking of somebody along the lines of Alcantara.

[Rcal10]

12 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

Of course. I thought Levine was thinking of somebody along the lines of Alcantara.

Maybe Gallen? Kelly, as well as Alcantara. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

Brewers pounded Abbott today. Maybe don't start lefties against them. They just took Luzardo from a 2.15 to a 3.58 and now they took Abbott from 1.58 to 2.18.

 

They will be in the WC race. I hope they trade some decent prospects. But they're a machine and it's annoying. it doesn't matter if they constantly field a mediocre offense. They win a lot by their pitching infrastructure. 

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

I wouldn't be surprised to not see him this series. He could use a good reset, get back to the pulled-flyball machine he has been, hopefully. 

Yep, Tucker definitely needs a reset. I am tired of his .918 OPS and 163 OPS+.

Maybe when he comes back he can improve. 

[squally1313]

7 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Yep, Tucker definitely needs a reset. I am tired of his .918 OPS and 163 OPS+.

Maybe when he comes back he can improve. 

Hey now, those are season long stats. When you drill down to his most recent stretch of games, say like, since the middle of May, then you'll realize over that stretch he's only had a .982 OPS.