Royals (Cameron) vs Cubs (Brasier): 7/21/25, 7:05pm

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Even the Royals salivate at the Brown/Flexen combo.

[Stratos]

5 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

I see there is no starter listed for the Cubs Wednesday  . Don’t tell me it’s going to be Wicks 

Wicks' fastball sucks too.  Is there a SP the Cubs developed that doesn't have a terrible fastball?  I'm 100% convinced Steele's fastball is a complete accident because ain't no way the Cubs taught him that.

[UMFan83]

remember when they were up 4-1?

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Just now, UMFan83 said:

remember when they were up 4-1?

[Wilson A2000]

28 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Chris Flexen has 36 innings this year where he has an xFIP of 4.83. He has 684 IP in MLB and an xFIP of 5.03. His career ERA is 4.72. This season his K% is down from his career 16.2% to 13.6%. Of all pitchers with 40 IP, three in the league have a lower K%. 

He's had a lucky season. But if past production meant future prediction, Bryan LaHair would be a muilt-season all-star. Underlying data is the way to predict the future. Flexen is bad. He's just been fairly lucky. 

I’m in agreement that he might have a bad second half based on some of the things you have mentioned, but I can’t say a pitcher sucks so far after not allowing an earned run for the first two months he pitched

[Dfan25]

6 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I saw Rea. Did that change.

On the mlb app , they don t have anybody listed . Would think it has to be Rea however .

[Tryptamine]

Brown's peripherals are....... 

10.26 K/9= That's good

2.92 BB/9= a bit high but pretty good

3.66 xFIP= that's solid to good

4.27 FIP= it's not awful

63.1% LOB= well that's 7-10% below where most pitcher sit

15.5 HR/FB%= That's quite high

.363 babip= god damn that's high

Hard hit%= 48.1% before tonight, god damn

He's just giving up tons and tons of hard hit balls so you can't even call the babip or hr/fb% a fluke.

 

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, Wilson A2000 said:

I’m in agreement that he might have a bad second half based on some of the things you have mentioned, but I can’t say a pitcher sucks so far after not allowing an earned run for the first two months he pitched

Really good pitchers can have a bad 5-6 starts. They are still really good. Just like sucky pitchers can have good runs for 36 innings! 

Chris Flexen probably sucks. But he way overperformed for the Cubs and I am thankful for that. I dont want to sound ungrateful, but he is likely as bad of an option to start a game as Brown is. 

[WhyCantWeWin]

Hadnt the Royals scored less runs than the Rockies this season?

[Caesar]

Cubs are currently built for the regular season win totals but will not get very far due to no actual ace! Imanaga has been really good but he’s a 2 and Boyd is a 2/3. Tallion is a 3 at best on a good pitching staff.  Pitching wins in the playoffs especially when it gets cold. 2016 had good hitting and Superior Starters to match the opposing Aces.

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, Caesar said:

Cubs are currently built for the regular season win totals but will not get very far due to no actual ace! Imanaga has been really good but he’s a 2 and Boyd is a 2/3. Tallion is a 3 at best on a good pitching staff.  Pitching wins in the playoffs especially when it gets cold. 2016 had good hitting and Superior Starters to match the opposing Aces.

The Rangers won a WS with Nathan Eovaldi as their best SP. The idea you *need* an ace is not proven by recent data.

The Dodgers won with Yamamoto, Walker Buehler and multiple BP games. They had one good SP. A great offense! But their staff, on paper, isn't what won it. 

[Tryptamine]

Just now, WhyCantWeWin said:

Hadnt the Royals scored less runs than the Rockies this season?

Going into tonight they were 2nd to last only ahead of Pittsburgh by 7 runs.

[Derwood]

2 minutes ago, Caesar said:

Cubs are currently built for the regular season win totals but will not get very far due to no actual ace! Imanaga has been really good but he’s a 2 and Boyd is a 2/3. Tallion is a 3 at best on a good pitching staff.  Pitching wins in the playoffs especially when it gets cold. 2016 had good hitting and Superior Starters to match the opposing Aces.

Imanaga is an ace

[Derwood]

When Swanson crashes out, he crashes out hard

[JHBulls]

Five pitch inning makes Jon Berti by far the best Cubs reliever today. horsefeathers baseball is weird. 

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Derwood said:

Imanaga is an ace

The problem is, thanks to Steele and Taillon being hurt, the rotation drops off a cliff after Shota and Boyd. Rea has been holding it together but the other 40% of the rotation is a dice roll at best.

[Caesar]

I’ll take Dodgers starters over Cubs anytime. Better stuff overall. 

[UMFan83]

So last 2 bullpen games we've lost by a combined score of 23-4

[JHBulls]

JT about to start the comeback. 

[JHBulls]

Boo!

[Derwood]

Old man strength (i.e warning track power)

[chibears55]

3 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

So last 2 bullpen games we've lost by a combined score of 23-4

One more to go 🤷‍♂️

[Stratos]

4 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

The problem is, thanks to Steele and Taillon being hurt, the rotation drops off a cliff after Shota and Boyd. Rea has been holding it together but the other 40% of the rotation is a dice roll at best.

And Boyd could hit the wall at any time.

I'm glad the Cubs are at least very aware of the issues for Boyd/Horton/Brown and giving these guys extra rest.

[JHBulls]

Games like today will happen over 162. It’s how Jed can improve the roster will be the key moving forward. 

[chibears55]

10 minutes ago, JHBulls said:

Five pitch inning makes Jon Berti by far the best Cubs reliever today. horsefeathers baseball is weird. 

Maybe he should start Sunday against the Sox 🤷‍♂️