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ICYMI, here's the series preview.
Also ICYMI, the foregone conclusion has happened -- Ruben Amaro Jr. is out as GM of the Phillies after seven years, which is about six years too many. They've hired an interim GM for the rest of the year, which seems kind of pointless with 3½ weeks left in the season, but that's the Phillies, I'd say.
That move should have no impact on this series, but Amaro's moves will, and probably will for years to come. One more note about this series: The Phillies have played 19 other teams this year, and the Cubs are the only team who has not defeated them -- yet. Only one other N.L. team has failed to beat them at least twice (the Padres went 1-5 against the Phils this year). I suspect and hope these numbers will be rectified after this series.
The other thing that's a factor tonight is the weather, which apparently followed the Cubs from St. Louis -- there's a pretty good chance of storms this evening.
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, Jackson RF, Bryant LF, Rizzo 1B, Castro 2B, Baez 3B, Ross C, Arrieta P, Russell SS
Four games in Philly. @JArrieta34 gets us started. #LetsGo Game preview: http://t.co/avksYOjvMo pic.twitter.com/EowQbbAnXQ
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 10, 2015
An all-RH lineup (except for Anthony Rizzo) against the Phillies' lefthanded starter.
Phillies lineup:
Hernandez 2B, Galvis SS, Herrera CF, Francoeur LF, Howard 1B, Altherr RF, Asche 3B, Ruiz C, Morgan P
Today's Starting Pitchers |
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Jake Arrieta is awesome. You can surely find the numbers elsewhere, but this is the most dominating Cubs pitching season since Mark Prior's in 2003. Before that, Greg Maddux in 1992. Before that... well, you might have to go back to the deadball era. Even Fergie Jenkins' great years weren't dominant in the way Arrieta is dominating.
Jake was the losing pitcher in Cole Hamels' no-hitter, which must have made him so angry he thought, "I'll just throw one of these myself."
Adam Morgan was the Phillies' third-round pick in 2011 and has made 13 starts in the big leagues this year, some good, some not, including his last one where he was lit up by the Red Sox for eight hits and six runs in 6⅓ innings. He has never faced the Cubs or anyone on the current Cubs roster, so I hope they have good scouting reports on him.
Today's game is on CSN Chicago.
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.