You'll need this for handy reference this afternoon:
Forecasts call for rain/storms to hold off until late afternoon. Hopefully, those forecasts turn out to be true. After today, it looks like gorgeous weather for the remainder of the homestand.
Here are today's particulars, including the "Sunday lineup" Joe Maddon promised:
Cubs lineup:
Szczur RF, Baez SS, Soler LF, Contreras C, Coghlan 1B, Almora CF, La Stella 3B, Kawasaki 2B, Lackey P
Brewers lineup:
Broxton CF, Gennett 2B, Braun LF, Carter 1B, Perez 3B, Santana RF, Arcia SS, Susac C, Anderson P
John Lackey
vs
Chase Anderson
John Lackey has made two starts against the Brewers this year, allowing four earned runs in 12 innings with 10 strikeouts. He's allowed three earned runs in 11 innings in two starts since his return from the disabled list at the beginning of this month. Since the Cubs are still vying to clinch the best record in the N.L., if Lackey can produce a start along those lines, the Cubs should be just fine today.
Chase Anderson has made two starts against the Cubs this year, both newsworthy. In the first, May 17 in Milwaukee, he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before allowing homers to Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant. In the second, the second game of a doubleheader August 16 at Wrigley Field, he had to leave the game in the first inning with a minor injury. Since that game, in four starts and a relief appearance, he hasn't thrown more than six innings in any of his outings. What to expect, then? Who knows? Current Cubs are just 4-for-40 against Anderson: the two homers above, a single by Heyward, and a double by Ben Zobrist.
Today's game is on CSN Chicago. It will also be on MLB Network (outside the Chicago and Milwaukee markets).
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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The 2016 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used at the end of 2015. Here's how it works.
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.