News:
Cubs catcher Willson Contreras will begin a rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Iowa.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) August 29, 2019
The Cubs have won six consecutive games in Citi Field (and see below) dating back to last year and are 10-3 overall against the Mets since the beginning of 2018.
Let’s keep that going tonight.
- THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE... ROAD? The Cubs’ sixth straight win at Citi Field is their longest winning streak ever in that ballpark. The Cubs are going tonight for their longest winning streak in New York since a seven-game winning streak at Shea Stadium from May 22-September 18, 1991.
- CUB POWER: Kyle Schwarber last night hit his 31st home run of the season to surpass his previous 2017 career high of 30. Schwarber is now one of only five N.L. left-handed hitters with multiple 30 homer campaigns in the last three seasons, joining Cody Bellinger (two times), Christian Yelich (two times), Max Muncy (two times) and Travis Shaw (two times).
- DOUBLING HIS PLEASURE: Javier Baez enters today’s game with 37 doubles this season, one shy of the N.L. lead (L.A.’s Corey Seager, 38) … Baez aims to become the first Cub to lead the N.L. in doubles since Derrek Lee did so with 50 in 2005.
- IT’S NOT JUST US: The Cubs’ 27-39 road record this season ranks 11th in the National League and 21st in the majors. All five N.L. Central teams have a losing record on the road and everyone but Pittsburgh has a winning record at home.
Here are today’s particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Here is tonight's #Cubs starting lineup.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 29, 2019
Game preview: https://t.co/rBxm40nBiC pic.twitter.com/RNxXDwZZ0K
Mets lineup:
We close out the homestand with de on the bump tonight. #LGM
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 29, 2019
⌚️ 7:10 p.m.
️ https://t.co/J2Zj1MyzkP
@JdeGrom19
@SNYtv, @MLBNetwork (out-of-market only)
@wcbs880, @ESPNDep1050AM
https://t.co/LVQQS6n3kp pic.twitter.com/V8erQbRAlE
Jon Lester, LHP vs. Jacob deGrom, RHP
Jon Lester has struggled lately. Let’s hope the off day Monday, which gave him an extra day of rest, will help him throw a better game tonight.
Jon last faced the Mets August 27, 2018. He allowed three runs in six innings that night at Wrigley Field. The last time he pitched in Citi Field, June 3, 2018, he threw seven shutout innings and allowed just two hits.
Jon has about equal numbers home and away this year, same for day games vs. night games. On the road since the All-Star break: four starts, 23 innings, 3.13 ERA, 21 strikeouts.
There’s more on Jon in Sara Sanchez’ article from earlier today.
Jacob deGrom was the best pitcher in the National League last year, winning the Cy Young Award. He has only been really, really good this year, not quite up to his 2018 standards.
That said, “really, really good” is going to be hard to beat, especially since deGrom has posted a 1.04 ERA and 0.923 WHIP in eight starts since the All-Star break. He’s allowed two or fewer runs in all eight of those starts and in his last outing, against a good-hitting Braves team, he struck out 13.
He allowed two runs in six innings against the Cubs June 23 at Wrigley Field. On the other hand, current Cubs are hitting .308 (36-for-117) against him with four home runs, two by Kris Bryant. So maybe he’s hittable after all. Teams have done a bit better against him in night games (2.91 ERA in 21 starts) than day games (0.93 ERA in five starts). That’s about all I’ve got, though.
Today’s game is on ABC7 Chicago. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Mets market territories).
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
SB Nation game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Mets site Amazin’ Avenue. If you do go there to interact with Mets 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.