Mariners (Gilbert) vs Cubs (Rea): 6/22/25, 1:20pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's a rubber game! I just like saying that.

[Derwood]

Day off for Dansby

[Jason Ross]

Brujan getting some run lately. I wonder a few things about this: 

1. Have the Cubs decided more-and-more to use their bench a bit more? 
2. Are the Cubs getting "done" with Brujan? They tend to do this with bench players when they're over it; they give them a few "last chances" to impress and then DFA them. 

On #2, Long has been in a bit of a rut lately. He has seen an uptick in 3b, but the Cubs would still be lacking some bench options if they swapped him for Brujan. Instead, maybe could the Cubs go to Franklin as a 4th OF and let Jon Berti get some run? He's been pretty bad but they could trust him more. 

I'd guess it's just getting to "doldrums of summer" and it's the Cubs know they have to give some days off. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

Clearly the Homerun Brothers, 🤴 Tuck and Busch has to carry the load today.

[Bertz]

He spent a month on the IL so not a completely fair comparison, but on a per inning basis Gilbert has been as good as Tarik Skubal this season.

The wind is almost as bad as yesterday though so it might not matter.  But in reasonable conditions the Mariners would be heavy favorites today.

[Rcal10]

37 minutes ago, Bertz said:

He spent a month on the IL so not a completely fair comparison, but on a per inning basis Gilbert has been as good as Tarik Skubal this season.

The wind is almost as bad as yesterday though so it might not matter.  But in reasonable conditions the Mariners would be heavy favorites today.

Yep, this is going to be a tough one. I personally do not like the Cubs chances in this one. But with the wind blowing out anything can happen. 

[Brian707]

Get the ball in the air early and often 

[thawv]

1 hour ago, Jason Ross said:

Brujan getting some run lately. I wonder a few things about this: 

1. Have the Cubs decided more-and-more to use their bench a bit more? 
2. Are the Cubs getting "done" with Brujan? They tend to do this with bench players when they're over it; they give them a few "last chances" to impress and then DFA them. 

On #2, Long has been in a bit of a rut lately. He has seen an uptick in 3b, but the Cubs would still be lacking some bench options if they swapped him for Brujan. Instead, maybe could the Cubs go to Franklin as a 4th OF and let Jon Berti get some run? He's been pretty bad but they could trust him more. 

I'd guess it's just getting to "doldrums of summer" and it's the Cubs know they have to give some days off. 

Long's BABIP has been falling fast, and as expected, so are his numbers.  I wish he could hit LHP because I think he would be a better platoon option for Busch than Turner. 

[Bertz]

1 hour ago, Jason Ross said:

Brujan getting some run lately. I wonder a few things about this: 

1. Have the Cubs decided more-and-more to use their bench a bit more? 
2. Are the Cubs getting "done" with Brujan? They tend to do this with bench players when they're over it; they give them a few "last chances" to impress and then DFA them. 

On #2, Long has been in a bit of a rut lately. He has seen an uptick in 3b, but the Cubs would still be lacking some bench options if they swapped him for Brujan. Instead, maybe could the Cubs go to Franklin as a 4th OF and let Jon Berti get some run? He's been pretty bad but they could trust him more. 

I'd guess it's just getting to "doldrums of summer" and it's the Cubs know they have to give some days off. 

Yesterday the wind was going out a normal amount to left, but screaming out to CF and RF.  I believe it's supposed to do the same today.

So I think the reason for substitutions is the lack of off says in this part of the schedule, while the "why Brujan" is probably literally just because he's a lefty.

[Jason Ross]

30 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Yesterday the wind was going out a normal amount to left, but screaming out to CF and RF.  I believe it's supposed to do the same today.

So I think the reason for substitutions is the lack of off says in this part of the schedule, while the "why Brujan" is probably literally just because he's a lefty.

Yeah, my assumption is that the team is using the bench, getting guys a day off, and cycling in a lefty. But with how limited the Cubs' bench has been, it's kind if interesting to see them use anyone not named-Justin-Turner in back-to-back days.

[thawv]

30 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Yeah, my assumption is that the team is using the bench, getting guys a day off, and cycling in a lefty. But with how limited the Cubs' bench has been, it's kind if interesting to see them use anyone not named-Justin-Turner in back-to-back days.

I think if Turner could play 3B or SS, and hit LH, he would have been the guy both games. 

[cubfansince77]

2 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

Brujan getting some run lately. I wonder a few things about this: 

1. Have the Cubs decided more-and-more to use their bench a bit more? 
2. Are the Cubs getting "done" with Brujan? They tend to do this with bench players when they're over it; they give them a few "last chances" to impress and then DFA them. 

On #2, Long has been in a bit of a rut lately. He has seen an uptick in 3b, but the Cubs would still be lacking some bench options if they swapped him for Brujan. Instead, maybe could the Cubs go to Franklin as a 4th OF and let Jon Berti get some run? He's been pretty bad but they could trust him more. 

I'd guess it's just getting to "doldrums of summer" and it's the Cubs know they have to give some days off. 

Hoping you are right on your 2nd point. Brujan simply can't hit well enough to stay on this roster. Fielding up until yesterday was decent. His throwing error cost Horton the win yesterday. Just really want to see him replaced asap.

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, cubfansince77 said:

Hoping you are right on your 2nd point. Brujan simply can't hit well enough to stay on this roster. Fielding up until yesterday was decent. His throwing error cost Horton the win yesterday. Just really want to see him replaced asap.

Tbf, his throwing error really should have been caught by Busch. Wasn’t a great throw but Busch catches in 95 out of 100 tries. 

[Derwood]

Maybe don't throw strikes to Cal Raleigh on the first pitch. Everyone knows he swings at the first pitch every time

[PeanutPunch33]

great start 🙄

[Cubbies1996]

Why do they keep throwing to Raleigh??

[soccer10k]

1 minute ago, Derwood said:

Maybe don't throw strikes to Cal Raleigh on the first pitch. Everyone knows he swings at the first pitch every time

Or maybe don’t throw a fastball right over the middle of the plate.

[Geographyhater8888]

Rae is long overdue to lay a giant egg.

[Derwood]

1 minute ago, soccer10k said:

Or maybe don’t throw a fastball right over the middle of the plate.

Especially to the guy who swings for the fences on the first pitch of every at-bat

[PeanutPunch33]

I wonder how much money Boog gets paid to essentially be a part time employee 

[chibears55]

Buckle up for a whole Lotta runs today, probably more then yesterday. 

[Derwood]

1 minute ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I wonder how much money Boog gets paid to essentially be a part time employee 

We had Boog and JD for like 5 or 6 straight games.

[Illiterate Scholar]

That was a sneaky good play by Seiya to keep that a single prior to the pick off

[JHBulls]

2 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I wonder how much money Boog gets paid to essentially be a part time employee 

Cliff Floyd might not get invited back after saying “unexcusable”. 

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Rae is long overdue to lay a giant egg.

Long overdue? Hasn’t he sucked his last 3?