Chicago Cubs vs. Detroit Tigers preview, Sunday 5/16, 12:10 CT

Sunday notes...

• ONE OF THESE DAYS... This is the eighth time in 2021 that the Cubs have entered the final game of a three-game series having split the first two. They have won one of the previous seven, the opening series vs. the Pirates at Wrigley Field last month.
• HE’S A JOC: Since returning from the injured list, Joc Pederson is hitting .444/.475/.528 (16-for-36) with a double, a triple and five RBI.
• GO KB: Kris Bryant is currently leading the NL in SLG (.661), OPS (1.071) and bWAR (2.2) and is third in total bases (84) and runs (31) and fifth in BA (.315) and OBP (.409).
• THE SYSTEM PRODUCES: Cubs rookie pitchers Justin Steele and Keegan Thompson have combined for a 1.24 ERA and 1.246 WHIP in 21⅔ innings, with 24 strikeouts.

Cubs lineup:

Tigers lineup:

Kyle Hendricks, RHP vs. Matthew Boyd, LHP

USA TODAY Sports

USA TODAY NETWORK

Well, that’s more like it. After a horrific April, Kyle Hendricks in May: two starts, 12 innings, 3.75 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, just two walks. Still not quite the Kyle we’ve known for seven years, but trending in the right direction.

His career numbers against the Tigers are virtually identical: two starts, 12 innings, 3.75 ERA, 1.583 WHIP, two walks.

Kyle’s only career start in Comerica Park came August 21, 2018. He allowed two first-inning runs — where have we heard this one before? — then threw six more innings without giving up any more. This would be a good result today, I think.

Matthew Boyd is just about the only reason the Tigers haven’t lost 30 games already. He’s got a 1.96 ERA and 0.936 WHIP and only one home run allowed in 41⅔ innings. His K rate is down a bit from previous years, a bit of a concern.

Boyd has never faced the Cubs and the only Cub who has seen him is Matt Duffy (1-for-5). The Cubs have done quite well vs. lefthanders this year so far (8-3 vs. LH starters), so perhaps that’s a good sign for this afternoon’s game.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee. The game is also on MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Tigers market territories).

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Tigers site Bless You Boys. If you do go there to interact with Tigers 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 2021 Game Thread procedure will be a bit different than previous years. It will be similar to what we’ve used for Spring Training.

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, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.