Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets preview, Tuesday 8/8, 6:10 CT

Tuesday notes...

• WINS AND LOSSES, BEFORE AND SINCE THE BREAK: At the All-Star break the Cubs’ record was 42-47, but they were 20-9 in the first games of series. Since the break, they are 16-8, but with last night’s loss are just 2-6 in series openers. On the other hand, since the break they are 7-0 in second games, 5-1 in third games and 2-1 in fourth games, for a combined 14-2. Before the break, they were 13-16 in second games, 9-18 in third games and 0-4 in fourth games, a combined 22-38.... Here are the Cubs’ records by game number in a series, then the home and road records in parentheses: First: 22-15 (10-9, 12-6) Second: 20-16 (13-6, 7-10) Third: 14-19 (7-12, 7-7) Fourth: 2-5 (2-1, 0-4). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• EN FUEGO: Cody Bellinger’s 3-for-3 night Monday gave him these ridiculous numbers in seven games in August: .539/.586/.731 (14-for-26), two doubles, a home run, nine RBI, eight runs scored, only one strikeout.
• STREAKING: The Cubs’ last off day was July 24 and they’ve played on 14 straight days since then. Even with Monday’s loss they are 10-4 over that span, the best record in the National League and just half a game behind the Mariners (10-3) for the best record in baseball.
• UNDER THE RADAR: Javier Assad, last 11 appearances (including one start) since June 16: 1.29 ERA, 1.036 WHIP, 27 strikeouts in 28 innings.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Mets lineup:

Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Carlos Carrasco, RHP

The last time Jameson Taillon pitched in New York, he allowed one hit in eight shutout innings. Of course, that was against a different team.

Last five starts for Jameson: 2.08 ERA, 1.154 WHIP, only two HR in 30⅓ innings. He seems to have turned the corner.

Taillon has not faced the Mets this year and no current Mets hitter has faced him more than four times.

Carlos Carrasco had one of his better games of the year against the Cubs May 25 at Wrigley Field — one run in 6⅔ innings. The run was a homer by Dansby Swanson.

Carrasco’s last four starts, though, have been terrible: 12.33 ERA, 2.478 WHIP, 32 (!) hits in 15⅓ innings. Hopefully, Cubs batters can take advantage of that tonight.

Statcast

Statcast

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. You can find out if Marquee is available via a provider in your area here.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com 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 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.