Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Mets Sunday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2018-06-03T16:20:01-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/171663892018-06-03T16:20:01-05:002018-06-03T16:20:01-05:00Cubs 2, Mets 0: Stealing a sweep
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<figcaption>Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="R9IEdI">Just when you think <span>Javier Baez</span> has done everything possible on a baseball field, he dares to do something new.</p>
<p id="pJC8GG">Javy and <span>Willson Contreras</span> had singled to lead off the seventh inning of a scoreless game, and Willson’s single advanced Javy to third.</p>
<p id="z212bO">Javy took his usual big lead, but <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> starter <span>Steven Matz</span> was paying much more attention to Contreras at first base. We’ve talked about this before: One of the reasons Javy can pull off the things he does is that he never hesitates. Once he gets something in his head, it’s full speed ahead.</p>
<p id="HQoNQl"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/must-c-baez-swipes-home/c-2115683283?tid=11493214">And so, here’s his daring steal of home [VIDEO].</a></p>
<div id="0TxOoX"><div style="max-width: 960px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.mlb.com/video/share/must-c-baez-swipes-home/c-2115683283?tid=11493214" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div></div>
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<p id="6WkfFn">And really, it wasn’t even close. Baez has baseball instincts that are off the charts. If he’s not elected to the All-Star team, <span>Dave Roberts</span> ought to choose him anyway, just to provide some entertainment. People would definitely tune in to watch Javy play.</p>
<p id="mmva9t">On that play, Contreras advanced to second, so it was officially a double steal. One out later, <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> singled, putting Contreras at third, where he scored on a sacrifice fly by <span>Ben Zobrist</span>, another heads-up play where the ball barely got past the infield. Great read by Willson.</p>
<p id="6l8hIK">And Zobrist was supposed to have the day off. Zobrist was pressed into action when <span>Addison Russell</span> left the game in the sixth inning. Here’s why that happened:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> Russell says he sprained finger on bad swing on 2nd at-bat. Should only miss couple days</p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/1003378136665423874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2018</a>
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<p id="949SPJ">That makes Monday’s off day fortuitous; maybe Russell misses Tuesday’s game, but that’s it.</p>
<p id="LtTGUA">Anyway, the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> had a 2-0 lead and that score held up for <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2018_06_03_chnmlb_nynmlb_1">the 2-0 win over the Mets</a>, sweeping the series, as I noted in the game preview, the first time the Cubs had swept the Mets in a four-game set in New York since 1991 (there was a four-game sweep at Wrigley in 2015).</p>
<p id="3qNSBy"><span>Jon Lester</span> was outstanding yet again. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, when <span>Kevin Plawecki</span> singled with two out. Lester got into a bit of trouble in that frame, as the bases were loaded on that hit, a hit batsman and a walk, but Lester got <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> to ground out to end the inning.</p>
<p id="2W4sAG">The only other inning where Lester really had any issues was the first, where he walked the first two batters he faced, but recovered by striking out the side. He wound up with seven strong innings, allowing only two singles, three walks and the hit batter, with seven strikeouts. That lowered his season ERA to 2.44; he’s having an excellent year, reminiscent of his 2016 season. Fun fact:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Most starts of 5+ innings & 1 or fewer runs allowed (2016-present)<br>36 Jon Lester<br>32 Justin Verlander<br>31 Max Scherzer<br>29 Jacob deGrom</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1003359211143815168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2018</a>
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<p id="dPlbNo">The bullpen again did a fine job. <span>Randy Rosario</span> issued a leadoff walk in the eighth, but got the next two hitters, and then <span>Steve Cishek</span> was summoned to face Plawecki and struck him out. <span>Brian Duensing</span> allowed a leadoff hit in the ninth, but got A-Gon to hit into a double play and then <span>Luis Guillorme</span> hit a little popup to Javy, who had moved to short when Russell left the game. That was Duensing’s first save as a Cub, in fact, just his third career save and first since 2015, when he was with the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a>.</p>
<p id="vDyka0">The Cubs pitching staff gave the Mets just six runs in the four games, which cover 41 innings due to Saturday’s extra-inning affair. That’s just outstanding.</p>
<p id="73VcK4">The Cubs did a curious little defensive dance with Javy and <span>Tommy La Stella</span>. TLS started at second in this one and Javy at third, but the two swapped positions several times depending on the handedness of the hitter, Joe Maddon wanting the better defender (Javy) on that side. That led to this odd-looking boxscore:</p>
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<p id="tLtGAp">The win, the Cubs’ fourth straight, gave them a 6-1 road trip and overall they’ve now won seven of their last eight, and have reached another high-water mark for 2018 at 10 games over .500. And we all owe a big “Thank you!” to the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a>, who defeated the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> Sunday afternoon and took two of three in their series against Milwaukee, and no, you did not predict that would happen before Friday. That’s just the second series the Sox have won at home this year (they took three of four from the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> a couple of weeks ago).</p>
<p id="baCGoa">So the Cubs now trail the Brewers by two games, and are even in the loss column, and a week from Monday the Cubs begin a three-game series at Miller Park. Should be interesting.</p>
<p id="Ysa7Um">There’s other business to take care of first, as the Cubs have a well-earned off day Monday and will begin a three-game set against the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> at Wrigley Tuesday evening. <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> will start for the Cubs and <span>Zach Eflin</span> will go for the Phillies Tuesday. Jake Arrieta started for the Phillies Sunday in San Francisco, so he won’t go in this series, but he’ll certainly receive a warm welcome back, and I’d bet the Cubs will play a tribute video before Tuesday’s game. TV for Tuesday is on WGN.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/3/17422866/cubs-mets-recap-jon-lester-javier-baez-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2018-06-03T14:10:02-05:002018-06-03T14:10:02-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Mets, Sunday 6/3, 12:10 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="4Zi3Ow">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/3/17402312/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-mets-sunday-6-3-12-10-ctAl Yellon2018-06-03T13:10:02-05:002018-06-03T13:10:02-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Mets, Sunday 6/3, 12:10 CT
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<figcaption>Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="4Zi3Ow">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/3/17402310/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-mets-sunday-6-3-12-10-ctAl Yellon2018-06-03T12:05:02-05:002018-06-03T12:05:02-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Mets, Sunday 6/3, 12:10 CT
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<figcaption>Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="soLJDk">Go get ‘em, Jon.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/3/17398676/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-mets-sunday-6-3-12-10-ctAl Yellon2018-06-03T11:00:02-05:002018-06-03T11:00:02-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets preview, Sunday 6/3, 12:10 CT
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<figcaption>Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs have a chance to do something pretty rare this afternoon.</p> <p id="Dqj7Bt">The Cubs have been playing the Mets for 57 seasons, since the New Yorkers entered the league as an expansion team in 1962. Overall, the Cubs are 375-359 against the Mets, but their record against them in New York isn’t good: 174-189, though Saturday night’s win gave the Cubs a winning record all-time in Citi Field at 17-16.</p>
<p id="Z4iOzR">Anyway, in that long history, the Cubs have swept the Mets in New York in a four-game series just three times: 1962, 1965 and 1991, none of which were winning seasons for either team.</p>
<p id="OMUh9B">A win this afternoon would give the Cubs a four-game sweep, and be much more meaningful than any of those long-ago four-game sweeps in New York. (The Cubs did sweep the Mets in a four-game series at Wrigley Field in 2015.)</p>
<p id="zEuUO5">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="Vergm4"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Okay, okay, okay, we're up. <br><br>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/6hYmkqgCtj">https://t.co/6hYmkqgCtj</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EverybodyIn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EverybodyIn</a> <a href="https://t.co/uLtwsNyoMX">pic.twitter.com/uLtwsNyoMX</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1003284080715292674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2018</a>
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<p id="paTjw6"><a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> lineup:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today’s lineup... <a href="https://t.co/JYcecWdq3H">pic.twitter.com/JYcecWdq3H</a></p>— New York Mets (@Mets) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mets/status/1003286489315315712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2018</a>
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<span>Jon Lester</span>, LHP vs. <span>Steven Matz</span>, LHP</h2>
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<cite>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<cite>Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="zQw5aq">Jon Lester made two starts against the Mets last year, and threw a total of 13 innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out 15. Particularly good was his start at Citi Field, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN201706130.shtml">June 13, 2017</a> — seven innings, one run, 10 strikeouts.</p>
<p id="8g597r">Current Mets are hitting .222 (51-for-230) against Jon with nine home runs, five of which have been hit by <span>Jose Bautista</span>, who is reaching the end of his career.</p>
<p id="gHlNtr">Jon’s had quite a bit of success career-wise vs. the Mets: 3.83 ERA, 1.425 WHIP in seven starts, and outside of <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN201607030.shtml">this game</a>, the worst start of Jon’s career, the other six: 2.30 ERA, 1.216 WHIP.</p>
<p id="zKSLCw">Jon’s last seven starts: 1.69 ERA, 1.031 WHIP in 42⅔ innings.</p>
<p id="QgdzpB">Steven Matz is having a solid season after having most of the last two ruined by injury. He had a good May (2.57 ERA, 1.286 WHIP) after a not-so-great April. His only career starts vs. the Cubs came in 2016. He allowed the Cubs seven runs in 11⅓ innings. and homers to <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>, <span>Kris Bryant</span> and <span>Javier Baez</span>.</p>
<p id="ypaEL8">More of that, please.</p>
<p id="VT4WHo">Today’s game is on ABC7 Chicago. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Chicago and New York markets).</p>
<p id="0kjgKb"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2018/06/03">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=2018_06_03_chnmlb_nynmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2018/NYN201806030.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/536887/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p id="c01E3n">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> site <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/">Amazin’ Avenue</a>. 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.</p>
<p id="4R9cxt">The 2018 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2017. 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>
<p id="d03f0j">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/3/17398186/chicago-cubs-new-york-mets-preview-sundayAl Yellon