I was never a big fan of interleague play. I couldn’t care less about the White Sox or Royals or Twins, but I’ll admit that I do like it when the Cubs play a team like the Mariners, A’s, Yankees, Red Sox or the teams they don’t face all that often. I’m not in favor of getting rid of it, but I like it when the Cubs play teams from their own division.
Team Leaders
Cubs (200 PA)
- OBP: Anthony Rizzo (.395)
- ISO: Anthony Rizzo (.287)
- HR: Kris Bryant (26)
- R+RBI: Bryant (134)
- wRC+: Rizzo (155)
- BSR: Bryant (4.0)
- SP K/9: Jake Arrieta (9.54)
- SP BB/9: Kyle Hendricks (2.43)
- SP FIP: Arrieta (2.99)
- RP K/9: Aroldis Chapman (12.83)
- RP BB/9: Hector Rondon (1.16)
- RP FIP: Rondon (1.86)
- WAR: Bryant (5.3)
Bryant hasn’t really struggled since the break, but he’s not hitting for the power that he was, which I guess is the same thing as struggling. He’s still getting hits so he’s been valuable. Hopefully we see his power return to what it was the first couple of months.
Mariners
- OBP: Nelson Cruz (.370)
- ISO: Cruz (.255)
- HR: Cruz (25)
- R+RBI: Robinson Cano (130)
- wRC+: Cruz (146)
- BSR: Leonys Martin (0.0)
- SP K/9: Nate Karns (9.33)
- SP BB/9: Taijuan Walker (1.88)
- SP FIP: Karns (3.83)
- RP K/9: Edwin Diaz (17.47)
- RP BB/9: Vidal Nuno (1.30)
- RP FIP: Edwin Diaz (2.04)
- WAR: Cano (3.9)
I kind of expected Cano to be leading most of the offensive categories. He’s still the team leader in fWAR, but Nelson Cruz is having a good season.
Pitching matchups
K/9, BB/9, ERA, FIP, projected ERA listed for each pitcher.
Friday: Hisashi Iwakuma, RHP (6.64, 2.19, 3.96, 4.40, 3.88) vs Jon Lester, LHP (8.68, 2.65, 3.09, 4.00, 3.28), 1:20 PM CT
Iwakuma has really good control, though it’s not as good as his career numbers this season. His strikeout rate was mediocre prior to this season, but it’s taken a big step back and he gives up a ton of home runs. He’s just average in about every start. he’s had a couple bad ones this year in which he gave up 5 runs, but other than that he’s been fairly solid. He keeps the Mariners in the game and gives you 6-7 innings.
I think I’ve said this each of the last two or three previews about Lester, but he’s striking out a bit fewer batters than he did the last couple years, but still better than his career rate. He’s also walking more batters and giving up many more home runs. He’s already given up more home runs this season (17) than he did each of the last two seasons (16 in each one). He’s allowed more per 9 innings this year than in any season since his 63 innings in 2007. Lester has been terrible lately. He’s given up 24 runs in his last 7 starts covering 36.2 innings.
Saturday: Wade Miley, LHP (6.26, 2.83, 5.23, 5.01, 4.41) vs Jake Arrieta, RHP (9.54, 3.25, 2.76, 2.99, 2.87), 1:20 PM CT
Like Iwakuma, Miley has good control, doesn’t strike many out and gives up lots of home runs. We could see a ton of home runs at Wrigley this weekend. He’s given up more fly balls this year, but he still has a good GB/FB rate. A very high number of his fly balls have left the park. He throws a fastball at about 90 mph and his slider is at 84. He also throws a curve and a change up.
The superhuman Jake Arrieta has returned to being human. I think we’re all finally starting to adjust to the reality that Jake was not nearly as good as he had pitched. I think most of us here knew that, but I know for myself that I started thinking he was not as good as he’d pitched, but perhaps quite a bit better than his projections indicated he would pitch. He is not. He’s a good pitcher who had a great run. He was good in his last outing. Jake will probably have another season with the Cubs before he becomes a free agent and I’m OK with the Cubs just letting him walk. He’ll be 31 next year so any future contract would begin during his age 32 season. I’d rather the Cubs just let him go. If there’s a trade to be made at some point this offseason or next year that could get the Cubs a young pitcher to take his place, I’d also be in favor of that. He’d have to be pretty good though.
Sunday: Felix Hernandez, RHP (6.90, 3.45, 3.45, 4.54, 3.55) vs Kyle Hendricks, RHP (7.95, 2.47, 2.39, 3.35, 3.58), 7:08 PM CT
Felix just isn’t the same Felix. His strikeout rate is way down and his walks are up. He wasn’t an elite pitcher last year either, but he was better than he’s pitched this year. He came off the DL a couple starts ago and has been terrible. The White Sox put up 10 hits and 5 runs in 6.2 innings and he walked only 2 while striking out 2. In his last start against the Pirates, he went 6 innings, gave up 9 hits and 4 runs. He’s surrendered 3 home runs in those starts, walked 3 and struckout only 5. I remember the Felix who threw in the mid to high 90s. He’s gone. His average fastball is about 90 mph these days. It’s also down quite a bit from last year.
Hendricks keeps doing the things that has gotten him to succeed at this level. He keeps the ball on the ground and the ball in the ball park. It’s not difficult to figure out how you have success. It’s really difficult doing it.
Comments
If the Mariners manage to steal less than five bases on Lester, it’s a successful start (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
Coghlan is leading off. :/
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I hope we bring chapman back. He is incredible to watch. I love him.
BubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I guess that’s better than Lester leading off.
dmick89Quote Reply
INSANITY
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
I’m hoping the Cardinals step in and trade their best players for Miller. That’s crazy.
dmick89Quote Reply
This roster move makes me dislike Matt Szczur. I never really had a problem with him, but he’s in the way now.
dmick89Quote Reply
It gets worse
JonKneeVQuote Reply
The Yankees must want to keep Miller. That’s the only excuse.
dmick89Quote Reply
Safe
dmick89Quote Reply
A lot of pitches already.
dmick89Quote Reply
Dae-Ho Lee looks like a guy who would happily enjoy a hearty lunch.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Coghlan with an early chance to show why his manager put him in the leadoff spot.
EdwinQuote Reply
Coghlan!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
He did it!
EdwinQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
KB!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m pretty sure Coghlan just locked up a spot on that playoff roster.
EdwinQuote Reply
Cogyant!!!
MuckerQuote Reply
The Cubs are singling Iwakuma to death.
dmick89Quote Reply
I think it’s time to be talking long term extension
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
5 years or longer. At least.
dmick89Quote Reply
Since Coghlan was activated from the DL the Cubs are averaging more than 18 runs per game.
dmick89Quote Reply
Amusing, but wrong.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Hey Hey!
uncle daveQuote Reply
i think it’s safe to say that heyward has officially fixed 100% of his issues at the plate. so glad that’s all behind us now.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Okay. This team might be back.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Leater looking good today. He’s fixed too.
dmick89Quote Reply
Heyward fixed. Lester fixed. Everything is perfect and nothing will go wrong ever again.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
It’s funny that Rizzo’s All For Won ad shows the benches clearing against the Reds now that Chapman is on the team.
dmick89Quote Reply
Grandpa-bomb!
berseliusQuote Reply
That ad confuses me. Who is Won?
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Looking over this M’s lineup, I was thinking “How the hell is this team not better than 2 games over?” Then I saw Iwakuma and Karns pitch.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Not gonna need Chapman today.
dmick89Quote Reply
I think he’s on first.
berseliusQuote Reply
I dislike how much pain Bryant looks in when he runs. It frightens me.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Big, if true.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
This is like April. Good times.
dmick89Quote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Bryant looks like he’s in pain when he swings and misses. I mentioned it last year because I was worried. I just think that’s how he looks. Someone should tell him he looks tired.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I think it’s disgust. I’ve seen him swing and miss and he looks pretty pissed at himself for swinging.
MuckerQuote Reply
So, the Cubs are the 1927 Yankees again?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
After about eight more games like the first six innings of this game then finishing the season 51–10 or something, yes.
ceruleanQuote Reply
According to the radio guys, Montgomery was scheduled to pitch this game. That makes the trade look better in retrospect.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Monty keeps his earned run streak alive!
berseliusQuote Reply
Walking people in the ninth with a multi-run lead is dumb.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
it has been known to lead to runs scored. It probably isn’t as dumb when you have an 11 run lead though.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Cubs are bookending the NL in run differential again. It’s been awhile.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Cardinals up 3-0 early on the Fish.
I’d be getting worried but since we’re good again…
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Lincecum is scheduled to face the Red Sox today. That… could be ugly.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Then again, I didn’t expect Weaver to have any success against them yesterday, and he sure showed me.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Part of me thinks the Cubs should sell Hammel and Strop to the likes of the Rangers/Giants/Red Sox/Indians and use the prospects to go hard after someone like Archer.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Shut you right up, it seems.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Rumors flying around tonight. Theo apparently after everyone, wants all the good players.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
The Montgomery trade looks like a panic move at this point. Sure would be nice to have someone like Vogelbach to add to a package for a left fielder.
dmick89Quote Reply
Lincecum has walked 6 through 3.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
My motto on life:
“Panic early so you don’t have to panic late.”
ceruleanQuote Reply
Reddick for Soler, straight up? It seems like it would be terribly irresponsible. But I am getting the feeling that the chances of Soler being healthy enough to have a chance at being productive playing the outfield is approaching zero.
Reddick for Soler plus? Pass. So Thoyer will probably do it because if not now, when?
ceruleanQuote Reply
http://obstructedview.net/cubs-12-mariners-1/
berseliusQuote Reply