I don't have a whole lot to say except I hope the rain holds off, because playing a doubleheader at this time of year is no one's idea of fun, and -- just win, baby. Time to reduce that magic number yourselves.
But to calm yourselves down before tonight's game, please read Barry Rozner's voice of reason.
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Lilly and Arroyo have matched up twice before this year, on July 10 and August 20, both at Wrigley Field, and Arroyo has won both of them, even though Lilly gave up only two hits on August 20. This time, the matchup is at the launching pad known as Great American Ballpark; both Lilly (30) and Arroyo (25) are among the ML leaders in HR allowed. Fortunately for Lilly, his former tormentor Adam Dunn is in Arizona. No other Red has homered off him more than twice (Edwin Encarnacion, who homered on July 10). Lilly needs to step up. Since that July 10 loss, he is 4-2, 3.34 in nine starts.
Meanwhile, no Cub has really hit Arroyo well except for Mark DeRosa (9-for-18, a double, a HR). Derrek Lee has two homers off him, but only a .231 average. Like Lilly, time for the Cub hitters to step up.
Today's game is on CSN+, which means Chicago viewers get it on CLTV, and outside the market people have to listen to the awful Marty Brennaman and his even worse son little Thommy. Also see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Once again, a reminder that you can find the overflow comment threads, including the first pitch thread, on the right sidebar of both the front page and any interior page in the box headed "RECENT STORIES IN GAME THREADS". Today's first pitch thread posts at 6 pm CT, and the overflow comment threads will post at 7 pm, 8 pm and 8:45 pm CT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.