The Cubs have a chance to do two things in this unusual 3:35 PDT starting time matchup with the Padres:
- Put the Padres in a position where they'd have to sweep the Giants to even tie for the NL West lead, if they win, and
- Conclude their best September since 2003, when they were 19-8. A win today would make the Cubs 17-9 in the month of September.
The Padres are playing their final home game today; they often start the final game of a series on a weekday on getaway day at this unusual time of 3:35 local time. They are wearing retro uniforms on "Throwback Thursday", and though I'd like to say they are just tweaking the Cubs by wearing old-style uniforms, it's not true; they have done this five other times this year, against the Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers, Pirates and Diamondbacks. And the Padres won't be rockin' the 1984 look anyway today; according to this tweet from Carrie:
#Cubs coach Bobby Dernier doesn't have to worry about flashbacks. #Padres throwback jerseys for Thur game are from '78, not '84Here are the 1978 uniforms; those uniforms are too awful to win in, so let's beat 'em today. Would like nothing better than to end this disappointing season by knocking the Padres out of the postseason. Incidentally, in 1978 the Cubs were 7-5 vs. the Padres.
Lineup via tweet from CubsInsider:
#Cubs lineup @ #Padres (9/30): DeWitt 2B, Castro SS, Byrd CF, Ramirez 3B, Nady 1B, Snyder RF, Soriano LF, Hill C, Gorzelanny P
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Jon Garland threw seven shutout innings against the Cubs on August 17 at Wrigley Field. His last previous start against them was in 2006, so that's really all we have to go on -- and that was in Lou Piniella's last days as manager, when the Cubs were mailing things in. Perhaps today will be different.
Tom Gorzelanny has had a pretty good year, punctuated by a trip to the bullpen (not due to his pitching) and two wacky injuries when he got hit by batted balls. He appears to be a decent back-of-the-rotation guy; that's good if you have enough top-line starters, which the Cubs don't. As a LHP he still could improve over time; he is 28. He gave up five runs in 6.1 innings in a loss to the Padres on August 16 at Wrigley Field.
Today's game is on CSN Chicago and 4 San Diego. Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Padres site Gaslamp Ball. But be careful over there.
Today's first pitch thread will be up at 5:30 pm CDT and the overflows will post at 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm and 8:15 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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