Time: 3:10 PM CST
TV: NBCSCH, Youtube TV, Free Game of the Day on mlb.tv
Radio: 670 the Score
Cubs
Happ CF
Bryant 3B
Rizzo 1B
Contreras C
Schwarber LF
Russell SS
Heyward RF
Baez 2B
Tyler Chatwood SP
Reds
Winker LF
Pennington SS
Votto 1B
Gennett 2B
Suarez 3B
Schebler RF
Barnhart C
Hamilton CF
Mahle RHP
The Reds are honestly not much better than the Marlins are. Sure, Votto is perhaps the best hitter on the entire planet, but he is supported by some real flotsam and jetsam. Eugenio Suarez is the player that Pat Hughes most loves to pronounce on the Reds; Suarez signed an extension before the season started and is probably the only other player I’d look at on the Reds as far as serious concerns.
Tyler “#elitespinrate” Chatwood makes his Cubs debut today. Great American is no Coors Field, but the ball can get out in GABP. Park factors are around +10% on HR, which is 10th overall in baseball.
With the obvious caveat of “it’s still early,” it sure looks like Jason Heyward’s bat is in midseason form (for him). I think this year I’ve been most impressed with Addison Russell so far, in terms of “no wasted plate appearances.” Besides Russell, Bryant and Schwarber (I think his second HR broke the windshield of Elon Musk’s roadster) have been the most impressive Cubs.
Comments
For a team that gets on base a ton, I swear the Cubs hit the most solo homers in the league.
Berselius is too lazy to log in on his phoneQuote Reply
Scooter Gennett has been a pretty solid bat against RHP for his career. He hit 27 HR last season, which is 20 more than I’d guess.
EdwinQuote Reply
I think all 20 of those extra HRs were in one game.
Berselius is too lazy to log in on his phoneQuote Reply
On the flip side of the “no wasted at bats” is Javier Baez who is trying to lead the league in bunt outs.
dmick89Quote Reply
Fair. He was much better last year than I remember. 2016 Gennett is still the Scooter in my head.
mylesQuote Reply
TyroneQuote Reply
What’s up with the weird start time? Pat implied there was a reason early in the broadcast yesterday but I was wheels up before he elaborated.
berseliusQuote Reply
The Cardinals’s pitcher just hit a HR. Cards lead Brewers 4-2. Which I guess is both good and bad at the same time.
EdwinQuote Reply
Miles Mikolas hit that dinger. I’m pretty sure he said it was because he heard Berselius didn’t think he was notable.
mylesQuote Reply
berselius,
Is it the home opener for the Reds?
dmick89Quote Reply
It’s not their home opener and tomorrow’s start time is 5:40 so I have no idea why there are weird start times in this series.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ay You Hen-Knee-Oh Sue-Juarez
mylesQuote Reply
After the way this has started, I’m glad I can’t watch today’s game.
dmick89Quote Reply
Love seeing new pitchers walking everyone on the fucking Reds.
mylesQuote Reply
(dying laughing), Chatwood walks two guys then strikes out Votto looking, just like the Cubs drew it up.
berseliusQuote Reply
Probably the most Chatwood inning ever. Lots of walks/baserunners, then gets a GB DP to get out of it.
EdwinQuote Reply
I could strikeout 12 if I was pitching against the cubs.
dmick89Quote Reply
Javy!
berseliusQuote Reply
The Tyler Mahle game
mylesQuote Reply
Tyler Mahle is going to strike out 26 batters today.
mylesQuote Reply
Fine, 25.
mylesQuote Reply
Like I said, 24 strikeouts.
mylesQuote Reply
I thought bringing in Chili Davis was supposed to improve the hitting.
North Side PatQuote Reply
Stop. Walking. Batters.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Happ in center still makes no sense.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Oh good. A hit-and-run with a slow runner, a hitter who doesn’t make a lot of contact and a catcher with a great arm.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Zero runs is not enough already
ceruleanQuote Reply
The Cubs have scored less than two runs in 3 of their 5 games.
dmick89Quote Reply
Other than the two shutouts, they scored just one run in that 17 inning game.
dmick89Quote Reply
Wilson K’ing Votto is a reason to hope. Is there any better recommendation for a pitcher than a Votto swing-and-miss?
I could do without all the swing-and-miss on the Cubs side.
ceruleanQuote Reply
dmick89,
Sometimes you have to tip your cap to a great opponent with a great pitching staff.
Other times, your cap falls off because you facepalm so hard.
ceruleanQuote Reply
At least the schedule gets a little easier after these first two series.
dmick89Quote Reply
Some real enough already, KB
ceruleanQuote Reply
This is more like it. C’mon Rizz
EDIT: Nevermind
ceruleanQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo shouldn’t have jumped out of the way of that first pitch.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I disagree. He should have jumped out of the way enough that he would have been grazed.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Mr Frowny Face
ceruleanQuote Reply
The hangover of the Cactus League pennant race is real.
ceruleanQuote Reply
The only good thing to say about today’s game is that it was short.
ceruleanQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
I’d be okay if Congress passed a law making it illegal for anyone to say “See. You. Later. “ after a home run.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Yes. I mean, how often do we see the ball later after a home run? Hardly ever. Makes no sense.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
http://obstructedview.net/reds-1-cubs-0-4-2-18/
berseliusQuote Reply