Ah, yes. The friend to no one, the split doubleheader. It means more than 12 hours at the ballpark for players, broadcasters, gameday employees -- and fans, if they are interested in attending both games. For those of us watching on TV, it makes for a long day of baseball. That's fun, for sure. It will be much more fun if the Cubs can win both games.
This game is the makeup date for a rainout in Cincinnati Saturday, April 25. It probably would have worked out just fine if the teams hadn't played 13 innings last night and finished just after midnight Eastern time. I'd guess both teams will be mentally and physically exhausted; that could make for a couple of quickly-paced games. I would assume that the two starting pitchers were sent home early so they could rest up for their starts. They might be the only players not tired out for this day game.
Interesting team note:
Number of games it took the #Cubs to reach to 50 wins. 2010: 118 2011: 117 2012: 130 2013: 113 2014: 116 2015: 92
— Wrigley Field (@WrigleyBlog) July 22, 2015
Here are today's particulars. Please see below for some procedural changes in the game threads for today's split doubleheader.
Cubs lineup:
Coghlan LF, Schwarber C, Rizzo 1B, Soler RF, Bryant 3B, Denorfia CF, Herrera 2B, Hendricks P, Russell SS
Everybody awake? Who's spending their Wednesday with @Cubs? #LetsPlayTwo Game preview: http://t.co/Ao949cHe2k pic.twitter.com/BdMJsFptA2
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 22, 2015
Good idea, I think, to give Dexter Fowler and Starlin Castro a one-game break.
Reds lineup:
Phillips 2B, Bourgeois RF, Votto 1B, Frazier 3B, Suarez SS, Schumaker LF, Hamilton CF, Barnhart C, Leake P
Reds give Jay Bruce Game 1 off. Happy to see that!
Today's Starting Pitchers |
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Kyle Hendricks has been excellent over his last four starts, posting an ERA of 0.35 and WHIP of 0.769 in 26 innings. He also had a good outing against the Reds June 13 at Wrigley Field, striking out seven in five innings. The only run he allowed that day was a solo homer to Joey Votto. The Cubs really need for him to go deep into this game to help save the bullpen.
Mike Leake was Hendricks' opponent in that June 13 game. He also threw five innings and allowed three runs. Since then Leake has posted a 3.08 ERA in six starts covering 38 innings, averaging more than six innings per start. Anthony Rizzo is 10-for-27 lifetime against Leake with two doubles and two homers.
In case you were wondering why neither of those starters made it past the fifth inning that day despite low pitch counts, that was the game interrupted by a thunderstorm and the delay lasted more than two hours.
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Today's game is on ABC7 Chicago. For coverage info in other Midwest markets click here (link opens .pdf).
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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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). Today's Game 2 preview will post one hour before the scheduled game time (possibly later if Game 1 runs long).
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. For today only please note there will be only one StoryStream™ for both games. I'll write a recap for Game 1 that will post separately from the StoryStream™, and the recap for Game 2 will post on Thursday morning.
The First Pitch threads for both games today 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.