Red Sox (Giolito) vs Cubs (Rea): 7/18/25, 1:20pm

[Brandon Glick]

What a series to begin the second half. The hottest team in baseball at Wrigley Field to face the NL Central-leading Cubs.

[Derwood]

[UMFan83]

Gonna be a tough series right out of the gate.  Giolito has allowed just 3 ER total in his last 6 starts and 1 in his last 3, averaging almost 7 innings a start.  Then they have Bello who has an ERA under 3 each of the last 2 months.  Followed by Crochet who has been one of the best LHP in baseball this year coming off a CG shutout of the Rays.

Not trying to be a doomer, we can hit good pitching, especially RHP.  And the fact that Rea is going today is somewhat balanced out by the wind blowing in today, then Shota and Boyd going the next 2 games. 

[Bertz]

Wind blowing in today, though not heavily.  Giolito's better than Rea (though at this point not by a ton) but this is still a game the Cubs should probably take.

[Geographyhater8888]

Why isn’t Boyd pitching on 6 days of rest? 

Edited July 18, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Rcal10]

23 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

And the fact that Rea is going today is somewhat balanced out by the wind blowing in today, then Shota and Boyd going the next 2 games. 

 

10 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Why isn’t Boyd pitching on 6 days of rest? 

When did the Cubs announce Boyd is going Sunday? I think that is a bullpen day. They are trying to save some innings for Boyd. 

[Bertz]

A Sunday starter hasn't been announced yet but I'd presume Flexen

 

[Geographyhater8888]

5 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

 

When did the Cubs announce Boyd is going Sunday? I think that is a bullpen day. They are trying to save some innings for Boyd. 

Crochet vs the cubs in a bullpen game. They can’t trade for a starting pitcher soon enough. 

[UMFan83]

8 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

 

When did the Cubs announce Boyd is going Sunday? I think that is a bullpen day. They are trying to save some innings for Boyd. 

Oh they didnt.  Honestly just assumed they were giving Shota and Boyd an extra day of rest with Rea going today and then resetting back to the top of the rotation.  Seems pretty crazy to do a bullpen game against Crochet.  Any game is winnable but dramatically lowering their odds.  I get that Counsell is playing the long game though.

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Oh they didnt.  Honestly just assumed they were giving Shota and Boyd an extra day of rest with Rea going today and then resetting back to the top of the rotation.  Seems pretty crazy to do a bullpen game against Crochet.  Any game is winnable but dramatically lowering their odds.  I get that Counsell is playing the long game though.

I believe if Boyd starts the Tuesday game it lines him up for the first game in the Brewers series. If he pitches then the rotation should be Boyd/Rea/Imanaga against the Brewers in Milw. This is assuming they don’t trade for a better pitcher. If they did, my guess is he would go against the Brewers instead of Rea. 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I so want Jed to prove me wrong, but I am bracing for additions like Andrew Heaney or Antonio Senzatela.

[PeanutPunch33]

I have to think that the Cubs had the draft they did because some of these top prospect OFers are going to be on the move.  That's pretty exciting to me.  They are clearly gearing up to make a big move and I can't wait to see what it is - hopefully Mackenzie Gore 

[Jason Ross]

8 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I have to think that the Cubs had the draft they did because some of these top prospect OFers are going to be on the move.  That's pretty exciting to me.  They are clearly gearing up to make a big move and I can't wait to see what it is - hopefully Mackenzie Gore 

I think the Cubs are going to move OF'ers but I don't think the Ethan Conrad selection has anything to do with it. He won't make a debut in the system until 2026 due to his shoulder injury and likely isn't going to have an ETA until deep in 2027 if everything goes really fast. He won't likely replace any talent in Iowa and the Cubs still have somewhat interesting OF prospects around. 

He was just the best on the board. Things shift greatly in MiLB terms, so the Cubs wouldn't be shortsighted enough to draft for need in such a defined way. 

[PeanutPunch33]

3 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

I think the Cubs are going to move OF'ers but I don't think the Ethan Conrad selection has anything to do with it. He won't make a debut in the system until 2026 due to his shoulder injury and likely isn't going to have an ETA until deep in 2027 if everything goes really fast. He won't likely replace any talent in Iowa and the Cubs still have somewhat interesting OF prospects around. 

He was just the best on the board. Things shift greatly in MiLB terms, so the Cubs wouldn't be shortsighted enough to draft for need in such a defined way. 

That makes sense.  And it also seems like many of these guys move around once they get to the big leagues.  Like Jackson Merrill was a shortstop but now he's a really good CFer.  Cam was a solid 3rd basemen but now he's trending towards being a long term right fielder.  Maybe Ethan can play a different position down the line.  

[chibears55]

42 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I believe if Boyd starts the Tuesday game it lines him up for the first game in the Brewers series. If he pitches then the rotation should be Boyd/Rea/Imanaga against the Brewers in Milw. This is assuming they don’t trade for a better pitcher. If they did, my guess is he would go against the Brewers instead of Rea. 

I hope it lines up this way, if they had went with Imanaga-Boyd these first two games they both would of pitched games 2 and 3 in Brewers series. 

So, just as long as both Imanaga and Boyd are set to pitch against the Brewers im good.

I dont know what theyre gonna do for Sunday, but with the off day next Thursday, and the deadline 2 week from today, this better be the last time we see a bullpen game or an opener the rest of this season. 

 

Let win a ballgame today and start the second half on a good note this weekend 

[chibears55]

39 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I have to think that the Cubs had the draft they did because some of these top prospect OFers are going to be on the move.  That's pretty exciting to me.  They are clearly gearing up to make a big move and I can't wait to see what it is - hopefully Mackenzie Gore 

That what I've been reading too..

Makes sense if the plan is to get solid returns, I just hope Caissie isnt involved  unless it for a solid TOR with a couple years left on their contract.

 

[chibears55]

Just saw they signed Spencer Turnbull, maybe they just go with him on Sunday🤷‍♂️😅

[Rcal10]

35 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Just saw they signed Spencer Turnbull, maybe they just go with him on Sunday🤷‍♂️😅

That isn’t happening. He signed a minor league deal and is not stretched out. I am sure he isn’t anything they actually count on. 

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, chibears55 said:

I hope it lines up this way, if they had went with Imanaga-Boyd these first two games they both would of pitched games 2 and 3 in Brewers series. 

So, just as long as both Imanaga and Boyd are set to pitch against the Brewers im good.

I dont know what theyre gonna do for Sunday, but with the off day next Thursday, and the deadline 2 week from today, this better be the last time we see a bullpen game or an opener the rest of this season. 

 

Let win a ballgame today and start the second half on a good note this weekend 

I agree they could have both pitched doing as you suggested. However it is obvious CC is trying to conserve some innings on those two guys. Give Imanaga an extra day and Boyd gets a decent break. 
I think we will see one more bullpen game against the white sox next weekend. That should be it assuming they do get a pitcher at the deadline. 

Edited July 18, 2025 by Rcal10

[PeanutPunch33]

1 hour ago, chibears55 said:

That what I've been reading too..

Makes sense if the plan is to get solid returns, I just hope Caissie isnt involved  unless it for a solid TOR with a couple years left on their contract.

 

Caissie would look great in LF next year next to PCA and Tuck. But I think the temptation of getting another TORP will be too great for them to pass up 

[Nolansomebody]

Nice day out here in Iowa to listen to the game. Interested in the Giolito/Rea pitching matchup.

Edited July 18, 2025 by Nolansomebody

[chibears55]

36 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

That isn’t happening. He signed a minor league deal and is not stretched out. I am sure he isn’t anything they actually count on. 

Was a joke..lol

[chibears55]

6 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Caissie would look great in LF next year next to PCA and Tuck. But I think the temptation of getting another TORP will be too great for them to pass up 

That been my hope, and before we get attacked, I know about the NTC.  

 

 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

No Boog, no JD, no T-Mac. I don’t want to be here. 

[chibears55]

Shaw basically has 2 weeks to show the bosses they can count on him the rest of season.