Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Marlins Sunday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2017-06-26T10:00:03-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/156092172017-06-26T10:00:03-05:002017-06-26T10:00:03-05:00Cubs Heroes and Goats weekend wrap: Games 73-75
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<img alt="MLB: Chicago Cubs at Miami Marlins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BHzXPjahrNeqmwWUJCa_aMm9hJU=/385x77:3264x1996/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55444989/usa_today_10129064.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ian Happ continues to power the Cubs offense | Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs lose two out of three over the weekend and wind up splitting their series with the Marlins.</p> <p id="LIC5e9">Last Friday, I recapped the first game of the four game series with the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a>. That was a fun one, as the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> had won 11-1. This weekend was a bit less fun as the Cubs dropped two out of three. This probably shouldn’t be surprising. After the June 10 game, the Cubs had lost four straight games (including one to these same Marlins). For the next six games, the Cubs would win a game and then lose a game. Each time they won, they moved back to .500. The Cubs broke the pattern with a three game winning streak. The game they won in the middle to break the pattern was a game they were trailing 2-1 in the seventh when they scored twice and held on to win against the lowly <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a> at Wrigley Field. </p>
<p id="f69QLv">If the Cubs were to continue that pace, they’d split the series that starts tonight against the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> and take two out of three from the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Cincinnati Reds</a> to finish a 6-5 road trip. I won’t speak for you, but I’d take it. I might be naive, but I have resigned myself to if this team can hang around a game or two out of first place until the All-Star break, that this team will get healthy and is more experienced than the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> and should be able to still win this division. You’d always rather be the juggernaut, win the division going away and have home field advantage in the playoffs. But, just getting into the post season and having enough firepower to compete could be enough.</p>
<p id="Dy7d6i">At that, we’ll get to looking at the three games over the weekend and see what WPA had to say about Heroes and Goats. As a reminder, the Heroes and Goats themselves are determined by WPA (Win Probability Added — <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/misc/wpa/">here’s a good explanation of how WPA works</a>) and are not in any way subjective. Many days WPA will not tell the story of what happened, but often it can give at least a glimpse to who rose to the occasion in a high leverage moment or who didn’t get the job done in that moment. Also note, for the purposes of Heroes and Goats, we ignore the results of pitchers while they are batting and hitters while they are pitching. With that, we get to the results.</p>
<p id="QzUF0h"><strong>Game Chart Friday, June 23:</strong></p>
<div id="55BeLb">
<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=wins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2017-06-23&team=Marlins&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2017-06-23&team=Marlins&dh=0&season=2017">FanGraphs</a></span>
</div>
<p id="oXvs3M"><strong>THE THREE HEROES: </strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="Vr2BbL">
<strong>Superhero </strong><strong>- </strong><span>Kris Bryan</span>t (.091). Kris Bryant got the <span>Bryce Harper</span> treatment as the Marlins wanted nothing to do with him and walked him three times in four trips to the plate. Kris now leads the major leagues in walks with 52. </li>
<li id="izidyn">
<strong>Hero </strong><strong>- </strong><span>John Lacke</span>y (.038). He did allow the obligatory <span>Giancarlo Stanton</span> home run, but otherwise only allowed three hits, two walks and one other run which was unearned over six innings.</li>
<li id="I8rUiV">
<strong>Sidekick</strong><strong> -</strong><strong> </strong><span>Justin Grimm</span> (.033). Faced five batters and retired them all. 11 outings now May 29th to present, totaling 12.2 innings of work, 18 strike outs, three hits and two walks. Holding opposing hitters to a .073/.116/.146 line over that time. </li>
</ul>
<p id="O4ZKh0"><strong>THE THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="X0Lvuo">
<strong>Billy Goat - </strong><span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> (-.152). <strong> </strong>Did have a hit in the game, but grounded into double plays in the sixth and ninth innings in a tight ball game. </li>
<li id="Hvbdkx">
<strong>Goat - </strong>Addison Russell (-.144). Hitless in four tries, including two strike outs. The strike out in the fifth with runners on first and third in a one run game accounted for -.070.</li>
<li id="TIHWRs">
<strong>Kid </strong><strong>- </strong><span>Ian Happ</span> (-.114). You don’t see a ton of guys on the goats podium after a two for four night in a low scoring game. He is here almost entirely because of his ground ball double play in the eighth batting with no outs and a man at first. </li>
</ul>
<p id="DDDNIq">Believe it or not, the Cubs are (only?) ninth in the major leagues at grounding into double plays. </p>
<p id="h96ll9"><strong>Game Chart Saturday, June 24:</strong></p>
<div id="bTM0Rs">
<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=wins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2017-06-24&team=Marlins&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2017-06-24&team=Marlins&dh=0&season=2017">FanGraphs</a></span>
</div>
<p id="4LKxI7"><strong>THE THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="0oGB1U">
<strong>Superhero</strong><strong> -</strong><strong> </strong><span>Javier Baez</span> (.194). Javy had a fantastic game, getting an RBI single in the fourth to cut the Marlins lead to 3-2 and then had a two run double in the sixth to give the Cubs a 5-3 win. No playing with sampling, his line on the year (222 PA) is .260/.298/.471. Good for an OPS+ of 98. Very good for someone known for playing plus defense, often at multiple positions.</li>
<li id="8u4ywY">
<strong>Hero - </strong>Ian Happ (.169). Ian had a two out RBI single in the first, a sacrifice bunt (which is negative WPA), and singled and scored in the sixth. He is leading the team in on base plus slugging at the moment and in the month of June (83 PA) he has a .297/.358/.689. I would imagine he has a very good chance at rookie of the month and if this continues he will be in talks for Rookie of the Year.</li>
<li id="aJGbrn">
<strong>Sidekick</strong><strong> - </strong><strong> </strong><span>Wade Davis</span> (.088). Wade worked a 1-2-3 inning including strikeouts of Giancarlo Stanton and <span>Christian Yelich</span> with a two run lead. Wade has been fantastic in the closer role for the Cubs.</li>
</ul>
<p id="8PKGf2"><strong>THE THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="yFGQOs">
<strong>Billy Goat - </strong>Kris Bryant (-.116). From the penthouse one day to the outhouse the next. Kris did have a double in the seventh, but had already struck out in the first with a man on and then grounded into a double play in the third to make the first two outs of the inning while the Cubs were losing 3-1 (-.082 WPA). </li>
<li id="0siniq">
<strong>Goat</strong><strong> - </strong><strong> </strong><span>Mark Zagunis</span> (.054). When Mark dreamed about his major league debut, he probably had a breakout weekend in mind. Instead, he gets two trips to the goat podium in his first two games. This one after an 0-3 game (with a walk). The big contribution here was his strike out with the go ahead run on second and one out in the fourth (-.042 WPA). He doesn’t take the negative credit for being doubled off o<span>n Jon Lester</span>’s line drive. </li>
<li id="OAOcEF">
<strong>Kid - </strong>Anthony Rizzo (-.005). Great for the team that only four players posted negative scores and one of those was dropped due to pitcher’s hitting. That leaves Anthony Rizzo as the only other negative player. Anthony lined out in his only at bat in the ninth inning and ended up here as a result.</li>
</ul>
<p id="fHFKLk"><strong>Game Chart Sunday, June 25:</strong></p>
<div id="sjH1Ph">
<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=wins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2017-06-25&team=Marlins&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2017-06-25&team=Marlins&dh=0&season=2017">FanGraphs</a></span>
</div>
<p id="Vhmp9S"><strong>THE THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="zWcCFX">
<strong>Superher</strong><strong>o - </strong><span>Miguel Montero</span> (.147). Walked leading off the second, singled in the fifth, and singled in the seventh. Here for table setting, but didn’t score or drive in any runs for his efforts. Miguel has been pretty good at the plate this year with a .292/.373/.448 line good for an OPS+ of 116. There is still some life in that bat.</li>
<li id="RAr7fd">
<strong>Her</strong><strong>o - </strong><span>Willson Contreras</span> (.088). Came in after the Russell injury and played some right field. Drew two walks, including the fifth inning when he walked, stole second, moved to third on a Montero single and scored on a La Stella sacrifice fly. From May 9 to the present, he’s hit .278/.341/.487 (129 PA). That’s the kind of production many of us expected out of him this year.</li>
<li id="x4nh3A">
<strong>Sidekick - </strong>Mark Zagunis (.044). After being a goat in the first two games of his career, he finds his way to the hero side, making three podium appearances in his first three major league games. This time, he is here for drawing a one out walk in the eighth inning. Walks are going to be a calling card of his if he is going to stick in the majors.</li>
</ul>
<p id="3Yxql2"><strong>THE THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="7YD7Mk">
<strong>Billy Goa</strong><strong>t - </strong><span>Tommy La Stella</span> (-.169). As noted above, actually drove in one of the two runs on the day. Also had a single leading off the fourth inning and ended up scoring. But Tommy is here because he grounded into a double play with one out in the seventh inning with runners on first and second after the Cubs last hit of the day (-.170 WPA).</li>
<li id="DdinC3">
<strong>Goat - </strong>Ian Happ (-.155). Ian did have a hit to increase his current hitting streak to six games for the first time in his young career. Ian is here for his caught stealing following his single in the seventh (-.114 WPA), which does lead to wondering what might have been as the following two batter walked and singled in a game that was only 3-2 at that time.</li>
<li id="0jYFNs">
<strong>Kid - </strong>Anthony Rizzo (-.134). The last three podium appearances for Anthony have all been on the goat side. He did drive in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, but that was actually a -.029 WPA owing to the fact that it came with the bases loaded and only one out in a 3-1 game. He also flew out in the second with the bases loaded (-.069) and flew out in the eighth with a man on first to end the inning (-.034). </li>
</ul>
<p id="gyQ0K2">Let’s look at our year to date standings for Heroes and Goats. As a reminder, we award three points for Superhero, two for Hero, and one for Sidekick. And we deduct -3 points for Billy Goat, -2 for Goat and -1 for Kid. Here then are the standings.</p>
<p id="ybizmS"><strong>Year to Date Standings (italics means player no longer in the organization):</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="MPlXlQ">Anthony Rizzo 33</li>
<li id="Se6uRX">Kyle Schwarber 10</li>
<li id="nPzAIC">
<span>Mike Montgomery</span> 10</li>
<li id="zbknw7">Wade Davis 10</li>
<li id="f8OIQr">Willson Contreras 9</li>
<li id="Ly8mi9">Kris Bryant 7</li>
<li id="GGM1Wj">Miguel Montero 6</li>
<li id="5w8SxP">Justin Grimm<span> 5</span>
</li>
<li id="VO5cjQ">
<span>Kyle Hendricks</span> 4</li>
<li id="Ih44aA">Ian Happ 3</li>
<li id="wR8szZ">
<span>Jon Jay</span> 3</li>
<li id="6nCg5M">
<span>Felix Pena</span> 3</li>
<li id="P78SZq">Tommy La Stella 2</li>
<li id="nL3OxC">
<span><em>Matt Sz</em><em>czur</em></span><em> 2</em>
</li>
<li id="koi7uI">
<span>Brian Duensing</span> 0</li>
<li id="GBUMkq">
<span>Eddie Butler</span> -1</li>
<li id="Jlg748">Carl Edwards -1</li>
<li id="ECjsQF">
<span>Seth Frankoff</span> -1</li>
<li id="VGLon1">Hector Rondon -2</li>
<li id="v1h965">Mark Zagunis <span>-3</span>
</li>
<li id="2euvwt">
<span>Pierce John</span>son -3</li>
<li id="mzTGAr">Pedro Strop -3</li>
<li id="fUw2If">Albert Almora -4</li>
<li id="UR67aE">
<span>Jason Heyward</span> -4</li>
<li id="0pPlfp">
<span>Brett Anderson</span> -5</li>
<li id="1h1Wjr">
<span>Jeimer Candelario</span> -5</li>
<li id="oh1XaW">Addison Russell -6</li>
<li id="z6Uo8p">Ben Zobrist -8</li>
<li id="za6gA0">Koji Uehara -9</li>
<li id="ctXdd2">
<span>Jake Arrieta</span> -9</li>
<li id="jLwqUX">Jon Lester -10</li>
<li id="OOZcaN">John Lackey -12</li>
<li id="fV3uNs">Javier Baez -22</li>
</ul>
<p id="rDyibb">As always, we end with a poll. On Friday, 58 percent of the votes went to Jake Arrieta, making him the Hero of the game for game 72. Today, we’ll vote for Player of the Week. </p>
<div id="kh1jnN"><div data-anthem-component="poll:509733"></div></div>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/26/15872628/cubs-heroes-and-goats-weekend-wrap-game-73-75Thomas Smith2017-06-25T15:15:38-05:002017-06-25T15:15:38-05:00Marlins 4, Cubs 2: Where’s the timely hitting and defense?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pOqu3W7nwPWmD6RpAI6DR8LamJk=/5x0:3907x2601/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55437779/usa_today_10130737.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>So many missed opportunities, in a number of ways.</p> <p id="xBtwIj">The <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>’ last 14 games have gone this way:</p>
<p id="TrAmno">W, L, W, L, W, L, W, W, W, L, W, L, W, L</p>
<p id="alaxoZ">This isn’t another one of those, “Man, this game could send them on a long _______ streak” recaps. Instead, it’s wondering when this team will play with any consistency. That’s a record of 8-6 over those 14 games, not bad, but not really that good either. And the frustrating part is that the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>, who the Cubs are chasing in the N.L. Central (a phrase I never thought I’d be writing in 2017) have gone just 7-7 over that span (pending their game Sunday which they are leading 7-0 in the eighth at this writing).</p>
<p id="pMsnTc">Meaning that if the Cubs could have done just a bit better over that stretch, they’d be in first place, not 1½ games behind the Brewers after <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2017_06_25_chnmlb_miamlb_1">a tough 4-2 loss to the Marlins</a> Sunday afternoon left them with a series split. That 1½-game deficit presumes the Brewers go on to win that game against the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a>.</p>
<p id="9bdbaT">This one had everything bad that we’ve been seeing over the last few weeks and months:</p>
<ul>
<li id="Q47dcU">First-inning runs allowed</li>
<li id="0G88NN">Many baserunners but a lack of hitting with RISP</li>
<li id="Rxo1Nw">And, for good measure, a double play that took them out of a run-scoring opportunity</li>
</ul>
<p id="Lljlav"><span>Mike Montgomery</span> actually threw a very good game, six innings’ worth of four-hit ball. Unfortunately, two of those hits came after <span>Addison Russell</span> had made an error on <span>Ichiro Suzuki</span>’s leadoff grounder. Tough error, I thought it could have been given a hit to the future Hall of Famer. No matter, all that accomplished was making the three runs that eventually scored off Montgomery unearned.</p>
<p id="DOaQM9">For his part, Russell left the game in the bottom of the fourth. Here’s why:</p>
<div id="MRymCL">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> say Addison Russell left the game with right shoulder discomfort.</p>— Patrick Mooney (@CSNMooney) <a href="https://twitter.com/CSNMooney/status/879047386169036800">June 25, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="GrxgJd">The right shoulder has been giving Russell trouble off and on this year. Here’s hoping this doesn’t mean a DL stint.</p>
<p id="quz1BL">Joke coming!</p>
<p id="Be8uM0"><em>If it does mean a trip to the disabled list, the Cubs will just call up another relief pitcher.</em></p>
<p id="93KaFI">No, I didn’t mean that. And I’m pretty sure the Cubs wouldn’t do that. Right? </p>
<p id="NXJwto">As it was, with a three-man bench the Cubs had to get creative with position switches. <span>Ian Happ</span> went to second base from center field (and later made a nice snag on a line drive hit by<span> Derek Dietrich</span>), <span>Javier Baez</span> moved from second base to shortstop, <span>Kris Bryant</span> shifted from right field to center, and <span>Willson Contreras</span> came into the game in right field.</p>
<p id="DP3zeH">That last move, I thought was a bit strange. Why not play <span>Jon Jay</span> in right field and Contreras in left?</p>
<p id="9CzqEV">Oh, Happ’s grab. I haven’t had much good video to share with you recently, but <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/25/1538058483/1498418370014/asset_1800K.mp4">that one’s worth looking at [VIDEO].</a></p>
<div id="KFyeJu"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video controls="" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;">Your browser does not support HTML5 video.<source src="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/25/1538058483/1498418370014/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="T6AcbV">The defensive switches were the least of the Cubs’ worries. They loaded the bases in the second inning on walks, but did not score. They loaded the bases again in the fourth inning, this time on three straight singles, and that time at least scored one run, on a sacrifice fly by <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>.</p>
<p id="Q4umsz">They made it 3-2 in the fifth when Contreras led off with a walk and went to third on a single by <span>Miguel Montero</span>. Yet another sacrifice fly, this one hit by <span>Tommy La Stella</span>, plated the second Cubs run of the afternoon.</p>
<p id="yszOJR">The Marlins increased their lead to 4-2 when <span>Giancarlo Stanton</span> hit a laser beam of a home run off <span>Pedro Strop</span> in the seventh.</p>
<p id="ztiE2w">But that was it. The Cubs did get a runner on base in the eighth when <span>Mark Zagunis</span> walked, but that went nowhere. So did the ninth against Marlins closer <span>A.J. Ramos</span>. In all the Cubs left 11 men on base — even while going 2-for-6 with RISP.</p>
<p id="7npM7r">For his part, Zagunis has looked overmatched in his brief time in the big leagues. He went 0-for-10 with two walks in this series. Unfortunately, the Cubs don’t really have any other options while <span>Jason Heyward</span> remains on the disabled list.</p>
<p id="j1T6e1">The good news was Montgomery’s second consecutive solid start. He looks like he might actually stick in the rotation. That’s good news, and the starting rotation has actually been very good through that 14-game stretch. It’s the bullpen and lack of timely hitting that have caused most of those “L”s.</p>
<p id="kArZLX">The Cubs open their four-game series at Washington Monday night. <span>Eddie Butler</span> goes for the Cubs and <span>Gio Gonzalez</span> for the Nats.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/25/15870858/cubs-marlins-recap-mike-montgomery-addison-russell-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2017-06-25T14:10:02-05:002017-06-25T14:10:02-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Marlins, Sunday 6/25, 12:10 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fzoYmKTRB65qUJPn7cgEkbGAi-w=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55431443/800615952.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="ZyrI7G">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/25/15827332/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-marlins-sunday-6-25-12-10-ctAl Yellon2017-06-25T13:10:01-05:002017-06-25T13:10:01-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Marlins, Sunday 6/25, 12:10 CT
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: Chicago Cubs at Miami Marlins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jTy08cC1pRXJXtOigexRQORS7w4=/0x0:2341x1561/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55431439/usa_today_10128840.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="ZyrI7G">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/25/15827322/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-marlins-sunday-6-25-12-10-ctAl Yellon2017-06-25T10:00:02-05:002017-06-25T10:00:02-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Miami Marlins preview, Sunday 6/25, 12:10 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XLV2u1eZD49yJRFgZyrLIFgetlY=/0x162:1927x1447/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55431403/usa-today-10128843.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs look to take three of four in Miami.</p> <p>The Cubs, oddly, did not win their series in Miami in either 2015 or 2016, the last two playoff seasons.</p>
<p>They did win their series in Miami in 2014, the last time they have won a series in Marlins Park, which opened in 2012. All-time the Cubs are just 9-11 in Marlins Park and 45-47 against the Marlins on the road.</p>
<p>Time to start making changes in that, I'd say. A win today, which would produce a series win, would be a great start to this long road trip.</p>
<p id="xd18M6">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="Yv7Z7W"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Rizzo 1B, Bryant RF, Happ CF, Russell SS, Montero C, La Stella 3B, Baez 2B, Montgomery P, Jay LF</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here is today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> lineup for the series finale in Miami.<br><br>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/jx6oysTJdZ">https://t.co/jx6oysTJdZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/KBSVvYaz7O">pic.twitter.com/KBSVvYaz7O</a></p>
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/878970262343086082">June 25, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p id="FbwPnv">The <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> lineup was not available at the time this preview posted. Please check <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/bleedcubbieblue">the BCB Twitter feed</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/bleedcubbieblue"> for the Marlins lineup. </a></p>
<h2 id="uUA7L0">
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/bleedcubbieblue"> </a><span>Mike Montgomery</span> vs. <span>Edinson Volquez</span>
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<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cB428k5c8qYzAh7aBH90eCRXdnA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8723327/usa_today_9928103.jpg">
<cite>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<div class="c-float-right"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SBUAGwvGgjZgYCz8fRVBgtFNB7c=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8723329/usa_today_9944013.jpg">
<cite>Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p>Mike Montgomery's last start was the kind of outing we'd been hoping he'd have. He kept his pitch count down (75 in six innings) and walked only one, allowing no runs. He's got the talent and the stuff to do this consistently. He just has to trust his stuff. Hopefully that one was the start of a long run of success.</p>
<p>He had a good outing against the Marlins <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201706050.shtml" target="_blank">June 5 at Wrigley Field</a>, when he piggybacked with <span>Eddie Butler</span> to defeat the Fish. Montgomery threw 3⅓ innings and allowed three singles and no walks in that game.</p>
<p>More of this, please.</p>
<p>Edinson Volquez threw a no-hitter against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> June 3, with 10 strikeouts. He followed that up with seven shutout innings against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a>.</p>
<p>Since then? Not so much. He didn't make it out of the fifth inning in either of his last two starts, against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>, and allowed nine hits and nine walks in 8⅔ total innings. That was Volquez before the no-hitter, too; he had a 4.82 ERA and 1.671 WHIP over his first nine starts this year. So that's the Volquez we hope we get today.</p>
<p>The Cubs used to see Volquez frequently when he was with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> and Pirates, but have not faced him since <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201505290.shtml" target="_blank">May 29, 2015</a>, when he was with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a>. Current Cubs are hitting .262 (22-for-84) against him with no home runs.</p>
<p id="kGZAur">Today's game is on CSN Chicago.</p>
<p id="y4SIM1"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20140401#date=6/25/2017">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p id="Xe5URc"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2017_06_25_chnmlb_miamlb_1#game=2017_06_25_chnmlb_miamlb_1,game_state=Live">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="cOzi2Y"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2017/MIA201706250.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="G92wAe"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/523137/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> site <a href="http://www.fishstripes.com/">Fish Stripes</a>. 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.</p>
<p id="4R9cxt">The 2017 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2016. Here's how it works.</p>
<p id="uNrOo7">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).</p>
<p id="Jy7Er2">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.</p>
<p id="F5ehVY">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 <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-game-threads">this section link</a>). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream as noted above.</p>
<p id="pjBR1E">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.</p>
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<p id="2uXuXb">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/25/15826304/chicago-cubs-miami-marlins-preview-sundayAl Yellon