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SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Things finally look like they're clicking for the Cubs this spring. Beyond the four straight wins, they are getting solid starting pitching, timely hitting and good fielding (the latter was missing for most of the first week or so, directly leading to losses).
Really, you can't ask for more than that. Keep up the good work!
Here's something of interest for later this week:
#Cubs to play B game 1 pm MT Thu vs Angels at Sloan Park. @kylehendricks28 will start. It'll be open to public
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) March 16, 2015
I might head over to Sloan Park for this one.
Here are today's game particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Alcantara 3B, Coghlan LF, Castro SS, Soler RF, Bryant DH, Sweeney CF, Castillo C, Olt 1B, Valaika 2B
Padres lineup:
Maybin CF, Solarte 2B, Kemp RF, Norris C, Middlebrooks 3B, Venable LF, Medica 1B, Amarista SS, Morrow P
This will be the first time a pitcher has batted in any game involving the Cubs so far this spring.
Jon Lester starts for the Cubs this afternoon, his third start of the spring. Other Cubs expected to pitch today: Neil Ramirez, Blake Parker, Joseph Ortiz Jason Motte and Donn Roach (not necessarily in that order).
Brandon Morrow gets the start for the Padres.
Today's game will be televised live on MLB Network (via Fox Sports San Diego, thus also on MLB.tv online). It's also on cubs.com with Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie.
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Please note that during spring training, Gameday doesn't usually go pitch-by-pitch as it does during the regular season -- usually, it will update after each at-bat.
For spring-training games, we'll have a first-pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time (because I know how you all like overflow threads!). For today, that will be 3:05 p.m. CT and 4:30 p.m. CT. These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page. They will also appear in this StoryStream™. The pitcher box and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.
Discuss amongst yourselves.