David Bote notes:
It's a walk-off
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 24, 2018
David Bote hits his 2nd walk-off HR of the month to give the Cubs a 3-2 win
It's the 78th walk-off home run of the season league-wide, 2nd most in a single season in MLB history. There were 80 hit in 2004. pic.twitter.com/vhFsDByXgu
So the day after Cole Hamels throws a CG, Alec Mills throws a quality outing, David Bote hits a walk-off, Daniel Murphy hits a go-ahead HR and Jesse Chavez gets the W.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) August 24, 2018
If I told you 2 months ago ^this^ would be the formula for back-to-back Cubs wins, your head would've exploded.
More Saturday notes:
- Cubs pitchers have a 1.36 ERA over the last eight games (11 earned runs in 72⅔ innings) with 20 walks and 56 strikeouts. Starters have posted a 1.71 ERA (nine earned runs, 47⅓ innings) and relievers have an 0.71 ERA (two earned runs, 25⅓ innings) in that eight-game stretch.
- The Cubs have homered in nine consecutive games. The last streak that was longer in a single season was 10 games, from August 16-26, 2016.
- Today’s start by Jose Quintana will be the 69th by a lefthander this season for the Cubs. Only three times in franchise history have the Cubs had 69 or more games started by left-handed pitchers in a single season: 1961 (69 starts), 2007 (85 starts) and 1966 (89 starts). With three lefthanders in the rotation (four, when Mike Montgomery returns) that 1966 record could fall. (H/T: Ed Hartig)
- The Cubs again lead the N.L. in runs per game (4.78) and are just four short of the Braves for the most runs, total (607, Atlanta has 611). The Cubs also continue to lead the N.L. in hits, BA, OBP and OPS.
- Javier Baez has 270 total bases this year. He’s on pace for 341 total bases. The last Cub to have that many total bases in a season was Derrek Lee, who had 393 in 2005.
SITE NOTE: Today's recap will be delayed an hour or so, as I am invited to a postgame BBQ.
Here are today’s particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Here is today's #Cubs starting lineup. #PlayersWeekend
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 25, 2018
Game preview: https://t.co/d6W7AZvW4s #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/i6owOl0jow
Reds lineup:
Welcome back, @scheb08!#Reds lineup presented by @PNCBank. pic.twitter.com/y7BifSyj4Q
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 25, 2018
Jose Quintana, LHP vs. Luis Castillo, RHP
Jose Quintana’s last start, against the Pirates, was very good — one run and four hits in five innings, though still too many pitches for that few innings (93). I just can’t figure Quintana, he’ll look that good and then go out and have a stinker.
He has one good start and one mediocre one against the Reds this year, resulting in an overall line of a 3.00 ERA and 1.333 WHIP against them, which is decent enough. Current Reds are hitting .260 (19-for-73) against him with one home run (Eugenio Suarez).
Luis Castillo has made two starts against the Cubs this year, and posted a 4.30 ERA and 1.636 WHIP, with seven earned runs allowed in 14⅔ innings. Castillo’s overall numbers don’t look that great this year, but he has been a bit better over his last five starts: 2.70 ERA, 33 strikeouts in 30 innings, six inning average per start.
Current Cubs are hitting .261 (18-for-69) against him with one home run (Kyle Schwarber). He has yet to retire Ian Happ (3-for-3) or Ben Zobrist (2-for-2).
Today’s game is on ABC7 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.
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