Two first place teams match up for a big series at Wrigley Field. All the story lines will be focused on the return of Jay Carrieta, whose rotation spot didn’t come up against the Cubs in his first year in Philadelphia.
Team Leaders
Phils
- OBP: Rhys Hoskins (.390)
- ISO: Hoskins (.273)
- HR: Hoskins (11)
- R+RBI: Hoskins (62)
- wRC+: Hoskins (148)
- BSR: Jean Segura (1.9)
- Defense: J.T. Realmuto (9.4)
- SP K/9: Aaron Nola (10.32)
- SP BB/9: Zach Eflin (1.45)
- SP FIP: Jerad Eickhoff (3.47)
- RP K/9: Seranthony Dominguez (12.23)
- RP BB/9: Pat Neshek (0.57)
- RP FIP: Hector Neris (3.00
- WAR: Realmuto/Harper (1.5)
Cubs
- OBP: Contreras (.420)
- ISO: Contreras (.305)
- HR: Bryzzo/Baez/Contreras (11)
- R+RBI: Bryant (67)
- wRC+: Contreras (173)
- BSR: Bryant (2.2)
- Defense: Baez (5.7)
- SP K/9: Darvish (11.79)
- SP BB/9: Cyle (1.61)
- SP FIP: Lester (2.99)
- RP K/9: Edwards (10.80)
- RP BB/9: Kintzler (1.77)
- RP FIP: Ryan (2.32)
- WAR: Baez (2.6)
Injuries, transactions, vengeance pacts, etc.
The Phillies had a busy offseason, signing Cutch and David Robertson and trading for JT Realmuto and Jean Segura. Oh, they also signed this Bryce Harper guy, but he’s no Rhys Hoskins.
Pitching Matchups
K/9, BB/9, ERA, Projected ERA listed for all pitchers. No time to write much tonight…
Monday: Jay Carrieta, RHP (7.55, 3.70, 4.02, 4.42) vs Yu Darvish, RHP (11.79, 7.07, 5.14, 4.19), 7:06 PM CT
Arrieta hasn’t exactly set the world on fire since he signed his deal with the Phillies, but Yu Darvish has pretty much checked all the boxes to become the pitcher that the Cubs brass seemed to fear Arrieta may be turning into when they let him walk. At least Darvish had no walks in his last start.
Tuesday: Zach Eflin, RHP (7.23, 1.45, 2.89, 4.48) vs Jose Quintana, LHP (8.77, 2.64, 3.68, 3.79), 6:05 PM CT
Wednesday: Cole Irvin, LHP (4.85, 1.38, 2.77, 5.23) vs Cole Hamels, LHP (8.89, 3.29, 3.13, 3.79), 7:05 PM CT
Two lefties named Cole enter, one man leaves. There can be only one!
Thursday: Aaron Nola, RHP (10.32, 3.61, 4.47, 3.46) vs Jon Lester, LHP (8.79, 1.88, 2.09, 3.87), 1:20 PM CT
Comments
you should just wait until the whole series is over to post the preview. that way your predictions for the individual matchups will sound super smart.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I wrote this on Sunday night, but can’t read a calendar apparently. No dinner (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
No Javy in the lineup tonight
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
apparently he’s questionable for tomorrow too…
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Cards/Royals is postponed, and they play a DH tomorrow. That’s probably good news since it makes it more likely KC takes one of those games.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Bryant!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
AC…saw the clarification on how vague the strike zone/check swing rule is. So would you say if a batter flinched and the bat crossed into the space directly above the plate, it is a strike, or if the batter flinched at all it is a strike?
I see JD and Len talking about it too. I think the flinch by Kingery just now was clearly a check swing and not a strike.
BVSQuote Reply
Bullpen gonna bullpen
berseliusQuote Reply
So Edwards in gives up a couple hits and leaves with guys and 2nd and 3rd and 2 out in favor of Kintzler. Yay or nay on that move?
Kintzler has been about the best reliever, but his forte is groundballs, not Ks. My armchair QB says better to leave CJ in.
BVSQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Makes sense, esp with a competent backup at SS, though Russell looks rusty.
BVSQuote Reply
Why can’t we just make the entire offense out of Kris Bryant?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
BVS,
I don’t get bringing in Kintzler there, either.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Brewers lose.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Is this true? Is the better team less likely to win both games if they’re played on the same day vs on back-to-back days?
I’ve always assumed it to be true but have absolutely zero evidence to back it up and kind of thought that I was the only one who thought this.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Rizzo!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Tony!
berseliusQuote Reply
don’t fucking fuck this up assholes
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I’ll take it!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The fuck was that (dying laughing). Zack’s call was pretty vague.
berseliusQuote Reply
Javy!!!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
A hit with RISP!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Baez!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
El Mago!
WaLiQuote Reply
El Mago!!!!!
berseliusQuote Reply
M———> inverted
berseliusQuote Reply
el fuckin mago y’all
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Javy. Fuck yeah.
andcountingQuote Reply
BVS,
I would go for defining a swing as the bat entering the plate’s airspace. A flinch that involves the bat (possibly even the batter’s arms?) breaking any part of a vertical extension of home plate. Calling any flinch whatsoever a swing would be super difficult, especially with timing mechanisms that start really early and could be considered as much a part of the swing as a flinch of the arms would.
andcountingQuote Reply
I’d be fine with that and I still think this is something that could be done with technology and no interruption to the game. Actually, I think it could be done with less interruption than the current system of checking with the base umpires.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
It’s a rare instance where I really feel bad for the umpires. They have no established rule to go on, and even if it were a perfectly defined rule it would be an impossibly difficult call to make with the human eye.
andcountingQuote Reply
That was a bomb.
dmick89Quote Reply
andcounting,
I think this is doable. Otoh, more Ks are not exciting.
BVSQuote Reply
Someone should compliment Tyler Chatwood. He was good last night.
So, good job, Sport.
BVSQuote Reply