The Cubs face the Padres for the second (and presumably final) time this year. It’s a west coast roadtrip, one of the few times I’m glad that I don’t live in the greatest time zone. I should be able to catch all of these games, or at least fall asleep on the couch around the eight innings or so. Or drive to see some of them in person 😀
Team leaders
Current and projected listed for each category
Cubs (lazily grabbed from last series’s preview)
- WAR: Rizzo (1.7), Rizzo (3.8)
- OBP: Rizzo (.463), Rizzo (.371)
- SLG: Rizzo (.598), Rizzo (.511)
- Defense: Fowler (3.0), Rizzo (5.2)
- BSR: Bryant (0.9), Fowler (1.1)
- R+RBI: Rizzo (44), Rizzo (192)
- SP ERA: Arrieta (3.00), Lester (3.26)
- SP K/9: Arrieta (9.60), Arrieta (9.0)
- SP BB/9: Hammel (1.17), Hendricks (2.2)
- RP ERA: Ross (0.00)/Rondon (3.00), Rondon (3.46)
- RP K/9: Strop (9.82), Rosscup (10.8)
- RP BB/9: Rosscup (1.35), Rondon (3.0)
Padres
- WAR: Upton (1.2), Upton (2.0)
- OBP: Alonso (.427), Upton (.342)
- SLG: Upton (.564), Upton (.458)
- Defense: Norris (3.5), Alonso (2.7)
- BSR: Upton (1.3), Upton (1.2)
- R+RBI: Upton (55), Upton (210)
- SP ERA: Morrow (2.73), Shields (3.37)
- SP K/9: Shields (11.92), Ross (9.2)
- SP BB/9: Morrow (1.91), Shields (2.2)
- RP ERA: Quackenbush (2.19), Kimbrel (2.01)
- RP K/9: Kimbrel (12.89), Kimbrel (13.5)
- RP BB/9: Vincent (2.45), Thayer (2.7)
Probable pitchers
Projected ERA, K/9, BB/9 listed for each pitcher
Tuesday: Jason Hammel, RHP (3.84, 7.62, 2.41) vs James Shields, RHP (3.33, 8.63, 2.22), 9:10 PM CT
This should be a fun rematch of Bryant’s first game. Shields welcomed him to the bigs with clown shoes, it will be fun to see if Bryant adapts.
Wednesday: Tsuyoshi Wada, LHP (3.95, 7.52, 2.81) vs Tyson Ross, RHP (3.18, 9.16, 3.56), 9:10 PM CT
Ross also faced the Cubs during the Kris Bryant Arrival series, and fared a lot worse than I remembered. He did strike out nine Cubs (I was expecting at least twelve), but also walked five and gave up a whole bunch of hits, including a Montero HR. His walk rate hasn’t shown much sign of improving since then, so if the patient lineup shows up they can make a game of this.
Thursday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (3.66, 6.42, 2.09) vs Odrisamer Despaigne ?, RHP (3.92, 6.75, 3.36), 8:10 PM CT
This could be Cashner instead, it’s still listed as TBA on the Pads website. I feel like the Cubs should spot this guy a run or two just on the awesomeness of his name alone.