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The Cubs have won five in a row, 11 of 12 and 12 of 14 in their current run.
I had a look back to see when the last time any Cubs team had a run like this. Naturally, it was in 2008, the best regular season most of us have seen in our lifetimes.
The 2008 Cubs had a 16-4 run in late May and early June, going from 29-21 to 45-25. Later that summer, tied for first place in late July, they went on a 25-6 run from 60-44 to 85-50, which proved to be their high-water mark for the year (and 35 games over .500 is the most any Cubs team has been over .500 since 1945).
I'm not suggesting this year's team can do anything like that, but they seem to be putting everything together at exactly the right time. I don't see any reason this run can't go on for several more games.
Here are today's particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Fowler CF, Schwarber LF, Coghlan 2B, Rizzo 1B, Bryant 3B, Soler RF, Montero C, Hammel P, Russell SS
.@HammelTime39 takes the mound tonight against the #Brewers. Game preview: http://t.co/DE7IBd46C5 #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/fzNI6j4vl7
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 12, 2015
Brewers lineup:
Peterson CF, Lucroy C, Braun RF, Lind 1B, Davis LF, Gennett 2B, Segura SS, Perez 3B, Garza P
Today's Starting Pitchers |
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Jason Hammel has made three starts against the Brewers this year. The Cubs have won two of the three games and overall, he's thrown 18⅔ innings against them, allowed six earned runs and struck out 16. He had a good outing against them July 31 in Milwaukee, his only real mistake a first-inning home run allowed to Ryan Braun. Hammel seems past the leg problems he suffered in a game July 8 against the Cardinals and is primed for a good last two months.
Matt Garza. People say "Bunt!" against him, and sure, why not? But the Cubs hit him pretty well while not bunting August 1 at Miller Park. Anthony Rizzo homered off him that day, and despite a good outing in his last start against the Padres, Garza has been pretty awful all year. His last start as a visiting player in Wrigley Field, September 3, 2014, was pretty bad. Keep hitting him, Cubs.
Today's game is on WGN. 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).
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.
The First Pitch thread 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.