Time: 12:45 PM CT
TV: ABC 7
Series Preview
Gameday
LINEUPS
Cubs
Dexter Fowler, CF
Jason Heyward, RF
Kris Bryant, LF
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Tommy La Stella, 3B
Miguel Montero, C
Addison Russell, SS
Jake Arrieta, P
Cardinals
Kolten Wong, 2B
Aledmys Diaz, SS
Matt Holliday, LF
Stephen Piscotty, RF
Matt Adams, 1B
Yadier Molina, C
Randal Grichuk, CF
Ruben Tejada, 3B
Carlos Martinez, P
Nice to see Matt Carpenter with the day off. Kind of surprised.
Click on the images below to visit Baseball Savant page and view larger image.
Anthony Rizzo has hit two home runs against Martinez and Dexter Fowler has hit him quite well too.
Among the Cardinals in the lineup today, Matt Adams has fared the best and he’s done well against Arrieta. It’s pretty rare to to find a player these days that can be said about.
Will the Cubs win? Yes, but it could go either way.
538 Forecast: 61% chance of winning
Comments
Saw two Cards fans on my flight this morning. They were flying to Chicago. (dying laughing)
SKQuote Reply
Is it naptime yet?
joshQuote Reply
Cubs loaded up on LHH today
BerseliusQuote Reply
Turned on the radio broadcast exactly in time for Chicago Cubs Baseball is on the Air
berseliusQuote Reply
Sounds like he’s got a kid arriving today
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
He knocked up his cousin? Typical for St. Louis.
dmick89Quote Reply
(dying laughing), never change, NY media. The Cubs should offer a bag of balls to the Mets for Harvey. Maybe add an extra bag and they can send Clayton Richard too.
berseliusQuote Reply
Nuts.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I woke up just in time for the game!
joshQuote Reply
Cubs lose smh
berseliusQuote Reply
Why can’t all our hitters be Zobrist?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
12 pitches for Arrieta. One groundball-manufactured run. Weird.
ceruleanQuote Reply
ARRIETTA’S DUN
joshQuote Reply
cerulean,
I wish Heyward’s groudballs would manufacture runs.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It would be a shame to give up almost nothing for a pitcher who can be a bona fide ace
ceruleanQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I wish they’d be line drives.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ugh, nice play by Diaz.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Come on, Addison.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Yay!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Don’t bunt, Jake.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Nice. Glad to see the Cubs get that run back. More please.
dmick89Quote Reply
not sure i’d call clayton richard a “bona fide ace”, but i agree that he is pretty damn good.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Dex!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Dexy McDexDex
joshQuote Reply
Was that first pitch bunt attempt called? Hated it.
Yay Fowler
dmick89Quote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
All pitchers can be aces if they have TWTW
joshQuote Reply
Heyward!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Hey McHeyey
joshQuote Reply
Fuck yeah
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m less picky than you are. I liked that last grounder just fine.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Come on, Kris.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Afraid of the double play, I guess.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Grounders that roll into the right field corner are good.
dmick89Quote Reply
Diaz doesn’t look so bad.
dmick89Quote Reply
I remember this Cubs team. They were pretty fun to watch.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I missed them.
dmick89Quote Reply
I love this offense so much.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Zobrist is awesome.
dmick89Quote Reply
This is fucking awesome.
MylesQuote Reply
What’s it been, 35, 36 pitches this inning?
dmick89Quote Reply
That play by Diaz was pretty good, Just saw the tape.
joshQuote Reply
(dying laughing), I left to make lunch and suddenly the Cubs are up 6-2
berseliusQuote Reply
dmick89,
He’s over 50 in two innings. I love that shit.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I don’t like that Randal Grichuk character.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
I like his defense.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Your wish was granted. I was (dying laughing) in the car for the twenty-odd minutes that inning took.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Jake put good wood on that one
berseliusQuote Reply
Damn, Arrieta.
ceruleanQuote Reply
78 pitches through 3 (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Think he will do a 234-pitch complete game?
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
I’d like to see how this lineup does against a starter the fifth time through the order.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Their OPS would be 4.185. Heyward’s ground ball double bring it down.
dmick89Quote Reply
Throw more strikes, Jake.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Maybe Arrieta and Sale are joined at the hip this season.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The Cubs need to get the bullpen up.
dmick89Quote Reply
I don’t understand this box score with a twisty number next to jay carrieta’s name
SKQuote Reply
Arrieta gave up more than three runs. Don’t see that every day. Good thing the bats showed up.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Oy vey.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I don’t think the Cubs hold onto this one and that would suck to blow two games against them.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
They need to score more.
dmick89Quote Reply
Callous Martinez is batting? Weird.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
*Carlos
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing) at Matheny batting Carlos Martinez right now.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
????
berseliusQuote Reply
Throw. Strikes. God.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This game sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
Wow. Thanks a lot
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
We’re full service around these parts.
dmick89Quote Reply
Martinez’s pitch count is climbing at a rate of 1 per pitch. At this rate, he’ll be over 100 in the next 10 pitches are so.
EdwinQuote Reply
what is the most unbreakable record in all of baseball? it’s gotta be single-season innings pitched. the record is 680.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Why is Ron Coomer speaking?
uncle daveQuote Reply
That one will more than likely never be broken, but it wouldn’t be that hard to do it. If a team decided to go with one or two pitchers and forced them to pitch all the time, it would be passed. They’d suck, but it could be done relatively easily. Especially if they don’t even pay attention to injuries.
The 56-game hitting streak is probably the most difficult.
dmick89Quote Reply
Still applies, Jake.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Would’ve been nice not to burn Cahill last night.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Crap.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Turns out, Arrieta is just a man.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Get him out, Joe.
uncle daveQuote Reply
I think Arrieta has about as much business pitching right now as Martinez did last inning.
dmick89Quote Reply
That should have been strike three.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Where the fuck was that pitch?
dmick89Quote Reply
Ugh again.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
gragh
berseliusQuote Reply
Watching on gameday. Outside of the Grichuk homer and Adams double, is Arrieta just getting some BABIP bad luck?
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Grimm just now getting up?
dmick89Quote Reply
JonKneeV,
Some yeah, but not very good control for Arrieta either.
dmick89Quote Reply
.353 BABIP by the Cardinals so far by my quick mathematics. Not all that crazy.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
Well, I’d like to see more strikeouts. And the leadoff walk sucked, as did the solo homer.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Damn it, Yadi.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
He’s a man
He’s just a man
He’s not a King
He’s just the same
As anyone I know
He scares me so!
EdwinQuote Reply
Why don’t umpires call that?
dmick89Quote Reply
Fuck off yadi
berseliusQuote Reply
I guess all you have to do to get on base is stick your elbow in front of a pitch.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
How obvious does it have to be?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
haha that’s a good point. i would love to see someone try that as a publicity stunt. some team with absolutely no prayer (MN/ATL) trots some dude out there for 9 innings every other day and the guy just gets completely torched but sets a bunch of all-time records.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Throw some strikes.
dmick89Quote Reply
Joe trying to keep Arrieta’s quality start streak alive or something.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
And hope that they get called strikes when you do
berseliusQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
hasn’t been a QS since grichuk’s RBI single last inning.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
berselius,
or that the batter doesn’t lean out over the plate and let it hit him.
dmick89Quote Reply
Too late, he’s already given up more than three runs.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Cubs are winning? God they suck.
joshQuote Reply
The site is signing me out. Says I’m signed in on the homepage, but on the threads I’m not signed in.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
It does that when it knows you have committed the gravest sin of all.
joshQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
you should still be able to post. i can, anyway.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Take that ketchup off your grilled encased meat and you’ll be fine
berseliusQuote Reply
Nice bunt.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Terrible bunt.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bunts!
joshQuote Reply
bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt bunt
uncle daveQuote Reply
I don’t think Dex should ever really be bunting.
joshQuote Reply
Terrible swing.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing) at Jorge’s binoculars
berseliusQuote Reply
It’s not actually signing you out. You’re still able to post. It’s frustrating. I know. I worked on it for a couple days without much luck and the host has been working on it (several people actually) for multiple days too. I heard last night that they have found out what’s causing it and they’re not looking into applying something that should fix it. Sorry about the inconvenience.
dmick89Quote Reply
This could have been a perfectly good inning, but it was wasted with a stupid bunt attempt.
dmick89Quote Reply
Bryant!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
BUNT!
joshQuote Reply
WRONG!
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I like the way this inning turned out.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
BRYANT!!!!!!
ceruleanQuote Reply
Hell yes!
dmick89Quote Reply
KBOOM
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I missed the homerun call because I was too busy looking at pics of Jorge’s binocs and watching La Stella’s play.
joshQuote Reply
Bryant makes it look so easy.
dmick89Quote Reply
Welcome to the bigs, Oh.
ceruleanQuote Reply
The Cubs are batting .500 on bunts today, so I can’t complain.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
They should bunt every plate appearance the rest of the year.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
It worked for the 1908 Cubs, probably.
joshQuote Reply
I thought that was going to be a liner just over the shortstop’s head. I guess it technically was (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
Warren is gettin hit hard.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The site does not like twitter embed code (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
I think that’s the 27th infield hit by the Cardinals in this game (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I’ll get a plugin for that up when we get the login thing figured out. Same goes for pictures.
dmick89Quote Reply
Can we take out Adam Warren now? Can we boss?
joshQuote Reply
I knew this wouldn’t be easy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jesus.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Fuck
dmick89Quote Reply
I blame La Stella. This inning should be over.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Welp, good thing that Bryant bomb happened.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
Nooooooooooo shit.
joshQuote Reply
Observation: La Stella may not be a very good 3rd baseman. Maybe move Bryant back to 3rd, La Stella to 2nd, and Zobrist to left?
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Time to bat around.
ceruleanQuote Reply
dmick89Quote Reply
Zobrist.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
still (dying laughing) at those binoculars
berseliusQuote Reply
Zobrist is piss hot right now.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Zobrist is awesome.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Admins can do it now.
dmick89Quote Reply
Some people question his level of maturity. If this is what they mean, I’ll take more of it, please.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Why couldn’t Arrieta get calls like that?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Baez may be a better fielder at 3rd than Bryant, but no way is La Stella. I’m not sure why they’ve been doing that other than they did it once or twice and were winning games so they stuck with it. Zobrist should definitely be the one in the OF when La Stella plays.
dmick89Quote Reply
Come on, Montero
dmick89Quote Reply
Broxton without his former velo is just a big fat guy with no control.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Don’t tell me what I can do
berseliusQuote Reply
Come on, Addy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
CB Bucknor just basically is like “Bbbaaaaall? I was thinking about titties.”
joshQuote Reply
josh,
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Throw the damn ball.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Huzzah for stolen 1st base.
joshQuote Reply
False alarm.
joshQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
They need to add pitch clocks with men on base. This is ridiculous.
dmick89Quote Reply
I don’t get the get to try for first base rules.
joshQuote Reply
josh,
You can’t go to fist on a dropped third strike with less than 2 out.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
*if first is occupied
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Otherwise, the catcher could stop the ball on purpose and get a double play. It’s like the infield fly rule.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
So the real question is which Strop are we going to get in the 8th?
JonKneeVQuote Reply
I believe you can, but the base needs to be open. Or maybe there can’t be any men on base? Something like that, it’s not just a 2-out thing.
EdwinQuote Reply
Throw strikes, Travis.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Crapola.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wood needs to get it up more. He’s pitching too low.
EdwinQuote Reply
Sigh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Maybe don’t get it up that much, though.
EdwinQuote Reply
Edwin,
I amended that. I hit “submit” prematurely.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Apropos of nothing, I miss the edit button.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I knew there was some kind of a wrinkle with a runner on 1st but couldn’t remember the details.
joshQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
+1
joshQuote Reply
Odds that Strop and Rondon can hold this lead?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Increasing the lead would be good. Rondon I feel better about than Strop.
joshQuote Reply
dmick89,
I’d feel more comfortable with a 6-out Rondon save.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
josh,
Yeah, I’d feel pretty good if they put up a 16-spot here in the 8th.
dmick89Quote Reply
Unless ClayDick is the guy who tries to hold the lead.
berseliusQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m certain Heyward will hit, but I don’t see any reason to not move him down in the lineup until he starts hitting. What can it hurt?
dmick89Quote Reply
Come on, KB
dmick89Quote Reply
Come on, Anthony.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
C’mon Bryzzo.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Come on Eileen.
EdwinQuote Reply
Even if the Cubs pull through and win this, this is not a game I’ll look back on fondly.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
FFS
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Nope. This game feels like a loss. Only thing to salvage this one is actually winning the stupid fucking thing.
dmick89Quote Reply
Good Strop or Bad Strop?
dmick89Quote Reply
Throw strikes, Pedro.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Strop…
EdwinQuote Reply
You knew the answer before you asked the question.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Strop + today’s quantum strike zone does not seem like a good combo
berseliusQuote Reply
I don’t like the combination of Strop and this strike zone.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Pedro and today’s zone is not good news. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius, I'd have beaten you to that sentiment if not for the login glitch.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Guys, I’m worried about how Strop can be really wild, and the umpire is also not calling a great zone.
EdwinQuote Reply
That looked fair to me.
dmick89Quote Reply
That’s a great point.
dmick89Quote Reply
Stropey is going to have strike them all out
joshQuote Reply
dmick89,
Not sure why the Cardinals are swinging at anything Strop throws with this zone.
berseliusQuote Reply
I’ll take it.
ceruleanQuote Reply
maybe a makeup call on that Rizzo ball from the last inning
berseliusQuote Reply
dmick89,
Textbook Strop
joshQuote Reply
I’m feeling a bit better about this lead now.
dmick89Quote Reply
Yep
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
This is classic Cubs/Cards right? Seems like the other team always battles. Probably cherry picking, but no lead feels safe against the Bro-Birds.
joshQuote Reply
All of our comments are in superposition.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Einstein proved simultaneity is an illusion anyway, amirite.
joshQuote Reply
Also, I want to correct “but” to “not” but am unable to.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Did Trevor Cahill get up by accident or something?
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Send all comment modification requests to al@bleedcubbieblue.com.
dmick89Quote Reply
FTFY
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Thanks.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Win this one for Jake.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This game makes me feel like a Cubfan again. I can’t say I’m a fan of that. (dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
Now I’m nervous.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Look at Piscotty’s minor league work and tell me, who the hell could have predicted he’d be as good a hitter as he’s been?
dmick89Quote Reply
Okay Rondon. You made it exciting. Now strike out the side please.
joshQuote Reply
Oh no.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Now you’re nervous?
dmick89Quote Reply
Ugggggh.
joshQuote Reply
Well, this blows.
dmick89Quote Reply
K and DP, please.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Fasten those seatbelts ????
berseliusQuote Reply
dmick89,
I was relatively relaxed when Rondon came in.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cubs better fucking win this. Or I’ll…. I’ll…. be sad.
joshQuote Reply
This is not the man I want to see at bat.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Grab some bench Yadi
berseliusQuote Reply
When 17 runs have been scored in 17 half innings, the probability in my mind of an eighteenth run is pretty high. DP, please.
ceruleanQuote Reply
What’s a better way to lose? Walk off homer or walk off gritty stolen home base?
joshQuote Reply
Yes!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Crap. A pinch-hitter.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jerko with a chance to beat my team. Jesus is this my childhood happening?
joshQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
My thought exactly.
dmick89Quote Reply
Live look at Grichuk
berseliusQuote Reply
fuuuuuuck yes.
joshQuote Reply
josh,
HR. Then the pitcher can do the Ted Lilly glove spike.
EdwinQuote Reply
phew.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Cubs…win?
EdwinQuote Reply
*exhales*
berseliusQuote Reply
I’ll take it.
dmick89Quote Reply
#invertedM
berseliusQuote Reply
Win’s a win motherfuckers. I’m outta here.
joshQuote Reply
so arrieta is 9-0 despite some lackluster outings. should be nice when he finally heats up.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Maybe he’ll improve to two wins a game.
ceruleanQuote Reply
oh, come on!
SKQuote Reply
That long bunt by Bryant was awesome.
SKQuote Reply
Which come is that exactly?
ceruleanQuote Reply
I think Thoyer has Andrew Miller in his sites. He is signed through 2018 at $9M per. And he checks the Lefty box. Oh, and he’s really fucking good.
What would it take to get him?
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Too much. More than I think the front office would be willing to part with.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Soler, Vogelbach, Happ?
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
My instincts tell me the cubs will probably go with the lefties they’ve already got in the organization.
dmick89Quote Reply
Hey guys did anyone else almost die when Hector fielded the final out? Because that was fun.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
SKQuote Reply
SK,
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dfHCDRTEL.jpg
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(it’s funny, because it’s so, so sad)
ceruleanQuote Reply
http://obstructedview.net/cubs-9-cardinals-8-5-25-16/
berseliusQuote Reply