Cubs (Imanaga?) vs Brewers (Misiorowski?): 10/11/25, 7:08pm

[Brandon Glick]

Well folks, here we are (again).

Another winner-takes-all postseason clash. This time after a rest day, meaning players have had an extra 24 hours to prepare.

It sounds like Shota Imanaga and Jacob Misiorowski will start today. Don't expect them to last long. The leash will be extraordinarily tight on both (or whoever gets the starting nod). Both bullpens should be rested enough to handle a big workload, especially the Cubs' quartet of long relievers (Brown, Soroka, Civale, Rea).

This is what it's all about. Whoever wins gets the right of wrestling the Dodgers for the NL pennant. Loser goes home.

[Brandon Glick]

Also, I am BEGGING the Cubs not to let this devolve into a Mariners-Tigers affair. Staying up until 1am for a neutral sudden death baseball game? Incredible stuff. Staying up until 1am for a Cubs sudden death baseball game? Pure torture.

[javy knows my name]

Why did I think it was pretty definitively stated that Shota wouldn't be starting

[Brandon Glick]

1 minute ago, javy knows my name said:

Why did I think it was pretty definitively stated that Shota wouldn't be starting

The collective hopes of the fanbase? Lol.

I haven't seen anything official. FanGraphs has these guys slated to pitch, so that's what I'm going on right now.

[gflore34]

If it's Shota, not surprised and probably won't work however, I Craig credit for not being scared and going with his guys.  It's obvious Murphy doesn't trust anyone save for Peralta to start, guess he can start, what, 3 times in a potential 7 game series vs. Dodgers?  Don't know what he'll do for the other 4 games.

[KCCub]

 

[Brandon Glick]

UPDATE: Pomeranz starting tonight as an opener. Imanaga might come in for bulk innings? Or maybe just one to face light-hitting lefties? Either way, bullpen game it is.

 

[Jason Ross]

I don't understand the Pomeranz thing. Why would you let him face Chourio and Contreras to start the game?

[KCCub]

1 minute ago, Jason Ross said:

I don't understand the Pomeranz thing. Why would you let him face Chourio and Contreras to start the game?

This is where I’m at. I don’t get it. Would rather start Kitt and let Drew face their bottom lefties.

[ILMindState]

I did not expect Pomz of all the choices to get the 1st 3 outs. I did not expect him to last longer than 2 weeks on this team so hopefully he continues to surpass my expectations. 

[gflore34]

5 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

I don't understand the Pomeranz thing. Why would you let him face Chourio and Contreras to start the game?

Does it matter?  If the bats come to life I'll take the Cubs chances to out slug the Brewers.

Edited October 11, 2025 by gflore34

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

I don't understand the Pomeranz thing. Why would you let him face Chourio and Contreras to start the game?

🤷 I guess if he started Kittredge he would face Yelich and Turang??? Honestly, don’t know. Brewers are hard to start an opener against because their top 4 hitter split equal beteeen lefty and righty. For me, I would rather have Pomeranz for later in the game, but I am sure Craig has his reasons. 

[ILMindState]

Old PSD buddy has a good thread about this before Pomeranz was announced 

 

 

 

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

🤷 I guess if he started Kittredge he would face Yelich and Turang??? Honestly, don’t know. Brewers are hard to start an opener against because their top 4 hitter split equal beteeen lefty and righty. For me, I would rather have Pomeranz for later in the game, but I am sure Craig has his reasons. 

I'm not sure what reason he has ever letting a LHP face Chourio if he doesn't have to. Yes the 5th best wRC+ against LHP and Pomeranz has real splits against RHP that aren't good. 

Feels like an unforced error here 

[Jason Ross]

3 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

Old PSD buddy has a good thread about this before Pomeranz was announced 

 

 

 

Makes sense. Still, probably wouldn't let Chourio see Drew myself but hopefully it works. 

[Soul]

Gonna have to put up some crooked numbers regardless.  We are here with the momentum.  They are here with the pressure of having blown a 2-0 series lead.  It’s a great opportunity for this ball club.  Get it done.

[17 Seconds]

the best 2 words in sports: game. five.

[gflore34]

Misiorowski take, take, take he will walk himself into trouble if you give him the chance.  Generate some BB's, get him favorable counts, then nail him.

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, gflore34 said:

Misiorowski take, take, take he will walk himself into trouble if you give him the chance.  Generate some BB's, get him favorable counts, then nail him.

You can crush his fastball when he pipes it (his wOBA on fastballs in the heart over 100mph is well above league average) and his slider has a tendency to be hung. 

Force him to throw those pitches and you can knock him around. Swing at his fastball in the shadow and you're swinging at the best fastball in baseball, essentially. 

[Illiterate Scholar]

We're expecting an opener for the Brewers too right? A lefty or Megill is who I'm thinking 

[cubfansince77]

3 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

I'm not sure what reason he has ever letting a LHP face Chourio if he doesn't have to. Yes the 5th best wRC+ against LHP and Pomeranz has real splits against RHP that aren't good. 

Feels like an unforced error here 

Agree. Just frustrating that we're paying a guy like Shota all that money and he can't be trusted to start. But...he's been bad so here we are. I'm on record as hating bullpen games but would love to be proven wrong. But Pomeranz? Man, that is hard to believe guys. Biggest game of the year and he's starting. Just can't get behind that. 

Edited October 11, 2025 by cubfansince77
left out a few facts

[Derwood]

27 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

We're expecting an opener for the Brewers too right? A lefty or Megill is who I'm thinking 

Yes, it’s Megill

[JHBulls]

3 hours ago, Brandon Glick said:

Also, I am BEGGING the Cubs not to let this devolve into a Mariners-Tigers affair. Staying up until 1am for a neutral sudden death baseball game? Incredible stuff. Staying up until 1am for a Cubs sudden death baseball game? Pure torture.

That’s the good thing about watching Baseball in Australia. Game started at 11:08am and finished around 4:00pm

Edited October 11, 2025 by JHBulls

[gflore34]

Megill is that Murphy's best choice?  Or, is the idea Misiorowski will be way too pumped and more wild than usual. So, ease him into the game.  Jason appeared to me that Megill' breaking stiff hasn't been very sharp, hanging/rolling his sliders, does this look correct?

[ILMindState]

Megill has reverse splits. They probably feel confident he can get out of the 1st against Busch and Tucker. Then save Ashby for a high leverage inning against the top of the lineup later in the game.