Chicago Cubs vs. Miami Marlins preview, Tuesday 4/16, 6:10 CT

Currently, the Brewers occupy first place in the N.L. Central with an 11-6 record... and a run differential of -3. The Cubs are four games behind, with a 6-9 record... and a run differential of +8.

Those records seem backwards, based on the run differentials. The two teams’ Pythagorean records are 8-9 (Brewers) and 8-7 (Cubs).

Thus the current standings are not likely going to stay that way. Everyone in the N.L. Central has a positive run differential, except the Brewers. So stay tuned.

Congratulations to:

• Albert Almora Jr., who turns 25 today.
• Mike Montgomery, whose wife Stephanie gave birth this morning. Montgomery’s scheduled rehab outing at South Bend has been pushed back to Wednesday.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Once again, let’s not hyperventilate because Kyle Schwarber got another night off.

Marlins lineup:

Jose Quintana, LHP vs. Pablo Lopez, RHP

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Jose Quintana had a rough start to 2019, but his last start (against the Pirates) was outstanding. Everyone’s hoping Jose has turned the corner and can be the guy the Cubs thought they were getting in mid-2017. Q said after that last start that he picked up his pace and worked faster and that helped him.

Jose made two starts vs. the Marlins last year. In Miami, he allowed six runs in six innings; at Wrigley, just one run in the same six innings. The only Marlin who has more than a handful of at-bats against him is Starlin Castro — who has yet to get a hit off Q, he’s 0-for-18 against him. Let’s hope that continues tonight.

Pablo Lopez turned 23 last month and is making his 14th major-league start tonight. He’s never faced the Cubs or anyone on the current Cubs roster. He’s allowed 19 hits, though just two walks, in his three starts so far this year.

Fangraphs says he has decent velocity on his fastball, averaging 94.4 miles per hour, and he’s relied on that pitch more this year than he did in 2018. But that’s all a small sample size.

Today’s game is on NBC Sports Chicago.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Marlins site Fish Stripes. If you do go there to interact with Marlins 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 2019 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used in previous years. 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.