Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies preview, Tuesday 6/27, 7:05 CT

Today's roster move: Here

Tuesday notes...

• FOR STARTERS: Cubs starting pitchers have the lowest earned run average in the National League, 3.77. They rank fifth among all teams, behind the Rays (3.35), Astros (3.49), Rangers (3.52) and Twins (3.69). Three more teams are below 4.00: the Braves (3.89), Marlins (3.94) and Mariners (3.98). The Padres are at 4.00 and the Brewers at 4.02. Four teams are above 5.00: the Royals (5.51), Reds (5.95), Athletics (6.39) and Rockies (6.44). The Phillies are tied for 14th, at 4.28. The combined average of the 29 teams other than the Cubs is 4.52. The soft-tossing Cubs starters are tied with the Cardinals and Guardians for 26th in strikeouts per 9 innings, at 7.3. Only the Royals (7.0) and Rockies (6.5) have fewer. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• MEANWHILE, IN RELIEF: Cubs relievers are ninth in K/9, at 9.9. Their ERA, 4.20, ranks 21st, right behind the Phillies’ 4.17. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• HE’S HOT: Ian Happ, last 11 games since June 13: .308/.426/.718 (12-for-39) with three doubles, two triples, three home runs, 14 RBI, seven walks and 11 runs scored.
• SO IS HE: Nick Madrigal, last 10 games since June 13: .345/.457/.448 (10-for-29) with three doubles, two walks, four HBP and only three strikeouts.
• GIVE HIM MORE PLAYING TIME: Miguel Amaya, last four games: .333/.500/.889 (3-for-9) with two doubles, a home run, two walks and three runs scored.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Phillies lineup:

Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Ranger Suárez, LHP

I’ll keep saying the same thing every time Jameson Taillon takes the mound, and maybe it’ll happen starting tonight: Do better, Jameson.

Even though his ERA has dropped from a dreadful 8.10 after the Phillies pounded him for eight hits and six runs in fewer than three innings May 20 in Philadelphia, it’s still not good — it’s hovering in the high sixes.

A better performance than that Philly game would be welcome. Taillon last pitched June 18 vs. Baltimore, so he’s had eight days’ rest. Hopefully that helps him reset.

Ranger Suárez missed the first six weeks of this season with a forearm injury, then returned and had a rough month of May, including a start against the Cubs May 19 in Philadelphia in which he lasted just two innings and allowed four runs.

He’s had a very good June, though — four starts, 1.04 ERA, 1.038 WHIP, just one home run allowed in 26 innings and did not allow more than one run in any of the four outings.

Hopefully, tonight will be the night that streak ends.

Statcast

Statcast

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

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The 2023 Game Thread procedure will be like last year’s, 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.