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You can continue talking the Matt Garza trade here, but also, let's have a look at some interesting Cubs splits. Their run differential has slipped a bit after losing two of three in Colorado over the weekend; it's now -15, but they are still three games below their Pythagorean projection, should be 46-50 overall.
Also...
Cubs in one-run games: 11-21
Cubs in games decided by 2-4 runs: 20-24
Cubs in games decided by 5+ runs: 12-8
Answer: Score lots of runs!
Also...
April 1-22: 5-13
April 23-May 18: 13-11
May 19-June 12: 7-14
June 15-July 19: 18-13
July 20-21: 0-2
Is a losing streak coming? (Let's hope not.)
Cubs lineup:
Lake CF, Castro SS, Rizzo 1B, Soriano LF, Ransom 3B, Navarro C, Gillespie rf, Barney 2B, Rusin P
Diamondbacks lineup:
Pollock CF, Prado 3B, Goldschmidt 1B, Hill 2B, Montero C, Ross LF, Parra RF, Gregorius SS, Skaggs P
Today's Starting Pitchers |
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Chris Rusin, who is playing the role of "insert replacement starter here" this year, has one career start against the Diamondbacks, September 30, 2012 at Chase Field. He threw five decent innings that day, and that game has a particular distinction -- it was the first game the Cubs had won at Chase Field in more than two years. Rusin's last start for Triple-A Iowa was nine days ago, so he won't be throwing on short rest, as he was in his last replacement start against the Athletics.
Tyler Skaggs has made five starts in the major leagues this year, with decent results, and also spent some time in the minors. He has never faced the Cubs or anyone on the current roster. Maybe this time will be different and the Cubs will hit a guy like that.
Today's game is on CSN Chicago.
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Diamondbacks site AZ Snakepit.
Here's the scoop on game threads for 2013. You'll find the game preview -- like this one -- posting as the first link in the StoryStream™, which will then contain all the overflow threads and the recap. The recap will also be on the front page as a separate post; once I post a game recap, the stream for each game will be retitled "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.
In general, game previews will post two hours before game time. Exception: for day games after night games, that will usually be 90 minutes, and for this late-night series in Arizona, two and a half hours.
You will also be able to find the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads 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 this StoryStream™. As I've done for each regular-season game for several years now, we'll have the First Pitch thread at five minutes before game time (moved up from actual game time per your requests), then an overflow one hour, two hours and 2:45 after game time.
Discuss amongst yourselves.