The last time a Cubs team won six in a row was last year from September 12-19, when they won seven straight. They needed that at the time, too, as it came off a sweep at the hands of the Brewers.
In the current homestand where the Cubs have won five straight, they have outscored their opponents 50-15. So... both the offense and pitching have been really good. In fact, in their last 17 games the Cubs have allowed more than four runs only twice. They’re 11-6 in that span and have outscored their opponents 87-55.
Notes:
- Happy birthday to Willson Contreras, who turns 26 today.
- In the Cubs’ last 13 home games, they have scored 73 runs (average: 6.08 per game) and hit 17 home runs.
- The Cubs’ eight walks Saturday finally got them out of last place in the National League in walks. They’ve now walked 124 times this year, 3.76 per game, a pace for 608 for the season. And note that the Cubs remain tied for the fewest games played of any N.L. team, 36. They’ll start to catch up this week, as the Cubs have a pair of makeup games (Monday vs. the Braves, Saturday vs. the Reds). The Padres and Nationals have played 41 games.
- Anthony Rizzo is hitting .342/.381/.789 (13-for-38) in May with five home runs.
- Rizzo and Kris Bryant both have five home runs so far in May. Rizzo has played nine games this month, Bryant 10.
Here are today’s particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Here is today's #Cubs lineup against the White Sox.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 13, 2018
Game preview: https://t.co/hOQAFq7DBZ #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/CIKpe9k2YY
White Sox lineup:
Today's #WhiteSox starters.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 13, 2018
⏰: 1:20 PM CT
: @NBCSChicago & @MLBNetwork
: @WGNRadio pic.twitter.com/oumXjHEpzn
Kyle Hendricks, RHP vs. Lucas Giolito, RHP
After a bit of a rough start, Kyle Hendricks has a 1.99 ERA and 1.191 WHIP over his last three starts, which includes issuing just two walks over 22x innings.
Last year against the White Sox he struggled, allowing eight hits without getting out of the fifth inning. In his career vs. the Sox: 3.98 ERA in four starts. Current Sox are hitting .440 (16-for-40) against him, but most of that is Jose Abreu (5-for-9) and Yolmer Sanchez (4-for-5).
Also, the photo above is proof that Kyle can, in fact, smile.
Lucas Giolito was the Nationals’ No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft, 16th overall (10 picks after the Cubs took Albert Almora Jr.). The Sox got him in the Adam Eaton trade prior to the 2017 season. That deal also brought Reynaldo Lopez (and a pitching prospect named Dane Dunning, who looks pretty good) to them, a huge win of a trade for the Sox so far.
Giolito was supposed to be the prize of that trade, but Lopez has been better. Giolito was OK last year (1.5 bWAR), but this year he’s just been bad. His ERA hasn’t been under 7 in a month and he leads the A.L. in walks allowed.
He has never faced the Cubs or anyone on the current roster. Usually, that spells “doom” for the Cubs, but I’m thinking: Not this time.
Today’s game is on WGN with Len & JD. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Chicago market), and the White Sox broadcast is on NBC Sports Chicago.
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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The 2018 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2017. 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.