Cubs (Boyd) vs Cardinals (McGreevy): 8/8/25, 7:15pm

[Brandon Glick]

Since the 2015 NLDS, has there ever been a better time to sweep the Cardinals?

[Derwood]

A pitcher with a 5+ ERA? NOooooooo

[mul21]

18 minutes ago, Derwood said:

A pitcher with a 5+ ERA? NOooooooo

Plot twist: he's a rookie so we're screwed anyway.

[Bertz]

With how much worse the Cards' lineup is against lefties than righties, and with Sonny Gray going Sunday, you realllly want to get this one in.  Win tonight and split the next two.

[Bull]

After going through the doom and gloom of a failed trade deadline and losing 2 of 3 to the reds, I have re-calibrated.

I feel good about this team, this stretch and specifically this match-up. Cubs play STL, Tor, Pit, while the Brewers play NYM, Pit, and the indefatigable Cin. Brewers get Skenes, cubs maybe not. 

Then head to head. 

Horton is a game 3 playoff starter who needs some rest. Byrd is an ace who needs a rest. Taillon and Assad coming back soon. Birdsell is knocking on the door. 

Cubs run differential may be worse than the Brewers, but neither team's recent runs will persist. 

Tucker and Suzuki have to start hitting. PCA will adjust. Happ showing signs of life. Solid lineup top to bottom against both handed pitching. 

And if things keep going as awful as they have, the Cubs are still a top 5 team in baseball. Certainly good enough to get hot and win it all. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Cubs lit this guy up on https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN202506240.shtml and I think it caused him to get sent down.

[mul21]

2 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Cubs lit this guy up on https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN202506240.shtml and I think it caused him to get sent down.

The Cards were playing games with rest for their starters and he's been up and down a bunch this year before the dumped Fedde.  They were trying to keep their rotation on 5 days rest, so frequently when they had a stretch with no days off, he'd come up and take a start to give the rest of the rotation an extra day.  

[Derwood]

1 hour ago, mul21 said:

Plot twist: he's a rookie so we're screwed anyway.

[CubUgly]

1 hour ago, Bull said:

After going through the doom and gloom of a failed trade deadline and losing 2 of 3 to the reds, I have re-calibrated.

I feel good about this team, this stretch and specifically this match-up. Cubs play STL, Tor, Pit, while the Brewers play NYM, Pit, and the indefatigable Cin. Brewers get Skenes, cubs maybe not. 

Then head to head. 

Horton is a game 3 playoff starter who needs some rest. Byrd is an ace who needs a rest. Taillon and Assad coming back soon. Birdsell is knocking on the door. 

Cubs run differential may be worse than the Brewers, but neither team's recent runs will persist. 

Tucker and Suzuki have to start hitting. PCA will adjust. Happ showing signs of life. Solid lineup top to bottom against both handed pitching. 

And if things keep going as awful as they have, the Cubs are still a top 5 team in baseball. Certainly good enough to get hot and win it all. 

I'm not as down with most of your reasons for feeling better, but I do believe Tuck, Seiya and PCA will have some good hitting stretches coming up. 

[chibears55]

This is going to be a good weekend for the cubs, not just winning but I have a feeling the Mets will handle the Brewers this weekend too.

[Derwood]

Hate waiting until 8:15 (eastern) for games to start.

#EDTproblems

[BigSlick]

it would make me feel really good to see the cubs go on a little winning streak of some kind

 

i've already mentally given up on the NL Central (as irrational as that is) but I just want to see them comfortably above 20 games over .500 and not hovering between 17-20 games over which they've been since like June

Edited August 8, 2025 by BigSlick

[Post Count Padder]

The Brewers just signed Julian Merryweather. 0.00 ERA rest of the season incoming.

[Bertz]

I'm really curious to see what the rotation is for the series after this, because that likely telegraphs how they go into the Brewers series.  But between the off day Monday and the returns of Assad/Taillon it's hard to say with any certainty right now.

My guess:

- Horton/Boyd/Rea against the Jays, with Assad starting one last time for Iowa on Tuesday 

- Then Shota/Taillon/Brown against the Pirates

- That sets up Horton/Assad/Boyd/Rea/Shota against the Brewers, with all five guys getting a full five days rest for their start

[Rcal10]

42 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I'm really curious to see what the rotation is for the series after this, because that likely telegraphs how they go into the Brewers series.  But between the off day Monday and the returns of Assad/Taillon it's hard to say with any certainty right now.

My guess:

- Horton/Boyd/Rea against the Jays, with Assad starting one last time for Iowa on Tuesday 

- Then Shota/Taillon/Brown against the Pirates

- That sets up Horton/Assad/Boyd/Rea/Shota against the Brewers, with all five guys getting a full five days rest for their start

I have to think if Taillon has a solid rehab start in Iowa they will want to minipulate the rotation to have Taillon face the Brewers over Rea. But I agree with the others. I also think after that series the Cubs will decide how to go forward with Horton the rest of the season. I am pretty sure the Cubs will see Peralta, Miz, Woodruff. Maybe even Henderson. 

[cubfansince77]

24 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I have to think if Taillon has a solid rehab start in Iowa they will want to minipulate the rotation to have Taillon face the Brewers over Rea. But I agree with the others. I also think after that series the Cubs will decide how to go forward with Horton the rest of the season. I am pretty sure the Cubs will see Peralta, Miz, Woodruff. Maybe even Henderson. 

You probly aren't wrong but Taillon right now? Ugh.....

[Hot Sauce]

Yadi will be joining the Cardinals staff for tonight and tomorrow as an invitee, per Derrick Goold. No doubt an organizational stunt to try to bring fans in to balance out the sea of blue they are anticipating. 

[Derwood]

15 minutes ago, Hot Sauce said:

Yadi will be joining the Cardinals staff for tonight and tomorrow as an invitee, per Derrick Goold. No doubt an organizational stunt to try to bring fans in to balance out the sea of blue they are anticipating. 

and bring back his dark arts pixie dust

[Stratos]

48 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I have to think if Taillon has a solid rehab start in Iowa they will want to minipulate the rotation to have Taillon face the Brewers over Rea. But I agree with the others. I also think after that series the Cubs will decide how to go forward with Horton the rest of the season. I am pretty sure the Cubs will see Peralta, Miz, Woodruff. Maybe even Henderson. 

Is Taillon, especially a somewhat rusty Taillon, better than Rea though?

If it's a 5 game series vs Brewers I assume Rea is starting.   He's our 4th best SP at this very moment.  Brown is out if anyone.

Wondering where Assad pitches though. Maybe in the pen for now? Gives Horton time to rest out of the rotation after the Brewers series?

[Derwood]

Brewers just signed Julian Merryweather. I somehow expect him to get saves in all five games in the upcoming series

[Hot Sauce]

6 minutes ago, Derwood said:

and bring back his dark arts pixie dust

inb4 Yadi pinch hits in the 9th to walk it off.

[Derwood]

 

Some interesting shuffling

[Stratos]

Brujan claimed by Braves from Orioles.  

[Hot Sauce]

5 minutes ago, Derwood said:

 

Some interesting shuffling

I like this.

[Bertz]

14 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Is Taillon, especially a somewhat rusty Taillon, better than Rea though?

If it's a 5 game series vs Brewers I assume Rea is starting.   He's our 4th best SP at this very moment.  Brown is out if anyone.

Wondering where Assad pitches though. Maybe in the pen for now? Gives Horton time to rest out of the rotation after the Brewers series?

Assad is currently lined up for the Monday Doubleheader, I feel pretty confident penciling that one in.