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The Cubs are 19-8 in August, with today's game obviously being the last one of the month.
The last time a Cubs team won 20 games in a calendar month was in 2008. Also in August. They were 20-8 that month.
It would be nice for this team to match that feat by winning tonight's game.
Tomorrow, there will be roster reinforcements added, including (most likely) Javier Baez. Until then... just keep winning.
There will be a brief ceremony honoring Jake Arrieta for his no-hitter, just prior to tonight's game:
PROGRAMMING ALERT: @CSNChicago will carry the #Cubs pre-game ceremony celebrating Jake Arrieta's no-hitter LIVE at 7p pic.twitter.com/C0SGTttcsy
— Jeff Nuich (@JeffNuich) August 31, 2015
Finally, here is your once-a-series reminder about SB Nation's partner daily fantasy game, FanDuel. If you want to participate, here's the link.
Here are today's particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Fowler CF, Schwarber C, Coghlan LF, Rizzo 1B, Bryant RF, La Stella 3B, Castro 2B, Hendricks P, Russell SS
Back home for six games against the #Reds and #Dbacks. #LetsGo Game preview: http://t.co/R6rEFkcCc1 pic.twitter.com/aeD7kxp9uD
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 31, 2015
Reds lineup:
Bourgeois CF, Bruce RF, Votto 1B, Phillips 2B, Frazier 3B, De Jesus LF, Suarez SS, Barnhart C, Lorenzen P
Today's Starting Pitchers |
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Kyle Hendricks would be the first to tell you that he'd like to do much better this year. He's really struggled in August: 5.40 ERA in five starts. He has faced the Reds twice this year. This outing in June was pretty good. This one in July, not so much. Joey Votto homered in both of those games off Hendricks. Perhaps stopping that would be a good start toward a better game, Kyle?
Michael Lorenzen has made two starts against the Cubs this year and they hit him hard both times. Miguel Montero and Dexter Fowler homered off him June 11 at Wrigley Field, and the Cubs had seven hits and three walks against him July 20 in Cincinnati. It got so bad for Lorenzen after the All-Star break (12.57 ERA in five starts) that he was sent to Triple-A Louisville three weeks ago. This will be his first start for the Reds after his recall.
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 Reds site Red Reporter. If you do go there to interact with Reds fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
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.