Cubs (Taillon) vs Pirates (Ashcraft): 9/15/25, 5:40pm

[Brandon Glick]

Easiest series left on the schedule (besides the freefalling Mets). Time to take advantage.

[squally1313]

Ashcroft has been pretty solid since coming up after an uninspiring start to the year in AAA. 2.47 ERA, 3.65 xFIP. And then Skenes tomorrow, and a 2.81 ERA in 25 innings in Oviedo on Wednesday. The offense is bad, 41 home runs in 53 second half games is the lowest in baseball, but unfortunately seeing some good pitching again (and then Greene and Lodolo to start the Reds series). 

Playoff odds have moved to 100% even though it's not officially clinched yet. Will be interesting to see how the Dodgers/Padres play out if the Dodgers stumble a bit....they've both struggled enough that the Phillies and Brewers are basically locked into a bye, assuming we take care of business and lock in the 4th spot, it'll be interesting to see if those teams go all out down the stretch to get the 3 seed instead of the 5 seed. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

The malaise is real. I expended more emotion back in May and June. Now im just sort of resigned to the fact that we will finish with the top WC and hope to hell our LHSP reverse course and get back on track, and Tucker rounds into form. The offense is a far, far cry from what they were a couple months ago, but the postseason is a new season and anything can happen. I do believe this roster can win a World Series. 

[UMFan83]

3 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

The malaise is real. I expended more emotion back in May and June. Now im just sort of resigned to the fact that we will finish with the top WC and hope to hell our LHSP reverse course and get back on track, and Tucker rounds into form. The offense is a far, far cry from what they were a couple months ago, but the postseason is a new season and anything can happen. I do believe this roster can win a World Series. 

I just can’t believe the length and depth of this slump. Our 4 best hitters in the first half have seemingly all been awful in the second half with no signs of life (at least with PCA and Seiya). It’s night and day from the first half and I’m just so confused as to why we can’t get it on track. Thankfully Nico and Happ have helped to keep us afloat as much as possible but I’m losing hope that we’re even going to reach a middle ground between the pre-ASB and post-ASB offense

[squally1313]

3 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

The malaise is real. I expended more emotion back in May and June. Now im just sort of resigned to the fact that we will finish with the top WC and hope to hell our LHSP reverse course and get back on track, and Tucker rounds into form. The offense is a far, far cry from what they were a couple months ago, but the postseason is a new season and anything can happen. I do believe this roster can win a World Series. 

The Padres don't have any LH starting pitchers, which helps. 

The numbers in September, team wise, show improvement in actual outcomes relative to July/August but a little bit of a regression in terms of the expected metrics. 8th in total offensive fWAR (Phillies comfortably first, Dodgers 6th, Brewers 7th, Padres 16th), first in walk rate, 19th in K rate, 12th in wOBA, 13th in xwOBA, 8th in baserunning, second in defense. Drilling down, Busch, PCA, and Shaw have been bad in every measure, expected metrics still love Seiya, Dansby is playing to his career line, Kelly and Castro are fine but getting a little lucky. Happ and Hoerner have been incredible, as mentioned. 

[CubinNY]

This is the warm-up game to tomorrow's Skeens vs. Horton. 

[17 Seconds]

these games have sliiiightly more meaning since the tiebreaker vs SD is divisional record

edit: nevermind, most of their remaining games are in the division

Edited September 15, 2025 by 17 Seconds

[Bertz]

Man if Pitt could hit at all they'd be scary.

I would say they should do a pitcher for hitter challenge trade this winter, but god knows they're never going to do anything that bold.  They'll sign like Rhys Hoskins and Cedric Mullins and call it a winter.

[squally1313]

8 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Man if Pitt could hit at all they'd be scary.

I would say they should do a pitcher for hitter challenge trade this winter, but god knows they're never going to do anything that bold.  They'll sign like Rhys Hoskins and Cedric Mullins and call it a winter.

The Pirates have had 26 different players take a PA for them this year. Only one of them has a wRC over 100. The Cubs have 10.

[chibears55]

15 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Man if Pitt could hit at all they'd be scary.

I would say they should do a pitcher for hitter challenge trade this winter, but god knows they're never going to do anything that bold.  They'll sign like Rhys Hoskins and Cedric Mullins and call it a winter.

Almost like the Mets 12 years ago with some very good pitchers, but needed to add hitters.  Remember when everyone wanted the cubs and mets to swap hitters for pitchers.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Ashcraft is good. Welp.

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

The malaise is real. I expended more emotion back in May and June. Now im just sort of resigned to the fact that we will finish with the top WC and hope to hell our LHSP reverse course and get back on track, and Tucker rounds into form. The offense is a far, far cry from what they were a couple months ago, but the postseason is a new season and anything can happen. I do believe this roster can win a World Series. 

I agree but there's still a little bit of opening in that window for the division..lol

Brewers play Angels and Cardinals this week, it a BIG IF, but being 5 back, if the Cubs can pick up 2 or 3 in the loss column going into the final week, that last week can be very interesting with the Brewers playing the Padres and Reds. 😅

[Bertz]

21 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

The Pirates have had 26 different players take a PA for them this year. Only one of them has a wRC over 100. The Cubs have 10.

Ke'Bryan Hayes getting fixed the instant he left town is pretty telling to me.  Especially since it was the Reds who aren't some genius team (though certainly not dumb either).  I don't know if it's their coaching staff, their technology (lack thereof?), or just the fact that any individual who goes there has essentially zero lineup protection, but there's something systemic going on.

[BKHoo]

Let’s go Cubs!!

 

We have 13 games left in the regular season and then we have 13 games to WIN in the postseason!!

[Bertz]

Tucker news isn't as positive.  I'd be surprised if he's back this week.

[squally1313]

If we get no progress does Tucker play through this type of injury in October?

[chibears55]

Soroka up and Brown down...

I dont think Tucker will be back until the final homestand if healthy to play.

[chibears55]

What illness does Suzuki have? Did they mention it? Seems really bad if he missing a few days

[Eeyore]

I wonder what the Cubs' record is with Amaya vs. without?

 

32-21 when he got hurt the first time. Wasn't back long enough to mean anything when he came back. Not as interesting as I'd hoped.

Edited September 15, 2025 by Eeyore

[chibears55]

23 minutes ago, Eeyore said:

I wonder what the Cubs' record is with Amaya vs. without?

 

32-21 when he got hurt the first time. Wasn't back long enough to mean anything when he came back. Not as interesting as I'd hoped.

14 - 12 in games he started and 16 - 12 in overall games he played.

So, he has missed alot of games this season, not sure if it'll benefit them having him on the playoff roster 

Edited September 15, 2025 by chibears55

[BKHoo]

PCA it’s not against the rules to go up 2-0 in the count. 

[Eeyore]

I haven't paid attention. With the passing of Cassie, did the cubs call up an outfielder or are they going to keep playing infielders in the outfield?

[chibears55]

Castro just swung and put his bat back into the bat rack at the same time 😅😅

[chibears55]

6 minutes ago, Eeyore said:

I haven't paid attention. With the passing of Cassie, did the cubs call up an outfielder or are they going to keep playing infielders in the outfield?

Counsell wont start a RH rookie(Alcantara)against a RHer 🤷‍♂️

 

Edited September 15, 2025 by chibears55

[mk49]

Buschy seems to be getting better.  Nice.