Well, here we are at the first "key moment" of the 2015 season.
The Cubs have played pretty good ball for most of their first 23 games, but looked offensively impotent for the last four games of the homestand (even while winning one of the games 1-0).
The Cardinals, meanwhile, have won 10 of their last 12 and have outscored their opponents 55-33 in those 12 games. It should be noted that they swept the Pirates at home this past weekend, but with all three games going into extra innings and won by one run. Before that, the Cardinals were 1-3 in one-run games this year.
They've also beaten up on mediocre-to-poor ballclubs this year, going 12-4 against the Reds, Brewers and Phillies. The Cubs are the only team that they don't have a winning record against, as the teams traded shutouts in the rain-abbreviated opening series at Wrigley.
What I'm trying to say here is that I don't think this is necessarily a mismatch. This is a far better Cubs team than a year ago and the pixie dust has to wear off the Cardinals at some point. And even last year's Cubs, who weren't as good as the 2015 version, played nearly .500 (9-10) against the Cardinals.
I'll be disappointed if the Cubs don't at least split this four-game set.
Here are today's particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Fowler CF, Coghlan LF, Rizzo 1B, Bryant 3B, Montero C, Castro SS, Denorfia RF, Wood P, Russell 2B
Jorge Soler, we are told, is just getting the day off.
The North Side vs. the Dark Side. Game preview: http://t.co/EKrUcXCQaB #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/GfCKJPg36X
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 4, 2015
Cardinals lineup:
Jay CF, Carpenter 3B, Holliday LF, Peralta SS, Reynolds 1B, Heyward RF, Wong 2B, Cruz C, Martinez P
Yadier Molina is also getting the day off, as he's been in a hitting slump (3-for-29), plus he caught every inning of the three extra-inning games the Cardinals played over the weekend.
Regular 1B Matt Adams sits against lefthander Travis Wood.
Today's Starting Pitchers |
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Travis Wood has made two mediocre starts this year and two good ones. In his last outing he struck out nine, something he's done only five times in his career. He's not likely to do that against the disciplined Cardinals, and overall they are hitting .338 (72-for-213) against him with 11 home runs, four of those by Matt Holliday. Keep Holliday down and there's a good shot the Cubs can win this game.
Carlos Martinez has an excellent 1.73 ERA in five appearances (four starts). His one relief outing was Opening Night against the Cubs at Wrigley. Oddly, three of the four hitters he faced (Mike Olt, Arismendy Alcantara and Tommy La Stella) aren't on the Cubs' active roster right now. Martinez' one weakness might be command. He's walked 10 in 26 innings. Patience on the part of Cubs hitters would be usefu.
Today's game is on CSN Chicago. In most of the USA (outside the Chicago and St. Louis markets) it will also be seen on ESPN -- check your local cable/satellite listings.
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Cardinals site Viva el Birdos.
The 2015 Game Thread procedure has changed a bit. Here's how it will work going forward.
You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream™ containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.
You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream™ as noted above.
The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.
Discuss amongst yourselves.