Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Braves Thursday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2019-04-05T10:00:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/180591872019-04-05T10:00:00-05:002019-04-05T10:00:00-05:002019 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 6
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<img alt="MLB: Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/roipeYtkLALHBq8Xzs4Zf33htp0=/221x190:3506x2380/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63358636/usa_today_12473672.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Cubs woes continue; losing streak reaches five</p> <p id="lBgeLc">The <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> almost managed a heroless game. Ok, let’s be clear. There are no heroes when your team loses 9-0. What’s that? The Cubs scored four in the ninth? Um. Ok. Whatever. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, did it make any noise? Seriously, people weren’t actually still watching that ninth inning were they?</p>
<p id="z2CkwN">This Cubs season is six games old and already it is getting tough to talk about. This was the first game I mostly missed. I’m on a business trip and was in meeting until about the time the game went completely off of the rails. Then, since it was already off the rails, I didn’t really watch much of the rest. </p>
<p id="hjWwjV">Between Twitter and CBS Sports, I’m vaguely aware that Yu was better, but Joe wanted to let him leave on a little bit of a high note or something. Yu was pulled very early and with the Cubs in a jam. Carl Edwards Jr. was called on and he threw some gasoline on a fire that was already much more than a spark. The bullpen continued its week-plus immolation, centered around a walk everybody strategy. </p>
<p id="39a6dq">While all of this was going on, someone called <span>Max Fried</span> was throwing five perfect innings to start the game. I believe the requisite misadventures of <span>Mark Zagunis</span> in the outfield continued. But, Mark had two more hits as well. When the team only had five of them, that was somewhat significant. The bat plays, the glove doesn’t. Good luck with that decision. </p>
<p id="ovTiot">I keep seeing people post to Twitter that this can’t get worse. People, please stop saying that. The Cubs haven’t been to Milwaukee yet, this doesn’t have to be rock bottom yet. That said, this team cannot, will not lose 100 games. It will turn. </p>
<p id="iUOM8c">That’s all I have to say about this game. I was raised not to say anything if you have nothing nice to say.</p>
<p id="6MNCfg">With that, we turn our attention to yesterday’s game as we look at what WPA had to say about Heroes and Goats. As always the Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA (Win Probability Added — <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/3/28/17159170/cubs-heroes-and-goats-2018-season-primer">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="N3MpTa"><strong>Game 6, April 4: </strong>Cubs 4 at <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> 9 (1-5)</p>
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<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=wins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2019-04-04&team=Braves&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=2019-04-04&team=Braves&dh=0&season=2019">FanGraphs</a></span>
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<p id="gI58wJ"><strong>Three Heroes:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="uxV0te">
<strong>Superhero: </strong><span>Ben Zobrist</span> (.003). If you wondered what it would look like for a game to have no players with a positive WPA, watch the first eight innings of last night’s Cubs game. The Cubs entered the ninth inning without a single player at or above .000. Ben Zobrist walked to load the bases with one out in the ninth (.007) to move into positive territory. This was Ben’s only time on base in three plate appearances.</li>
<li id="Wx3O06">
<strong>Hero: </strong><span>Victor Caratini</span> (.001). Victor singled with one out in the ninth and the bases empty. The Cubs were trailing 9-3 after a pair of Cubs homers earlier in the inning. </li>
<li id="0CN0QK">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong><span>Mike Montgomery</span> (-.003). This may well be the worst pitching line I’ve ever seen on the hero side. Mike threw two innings and allowed five hits and three runs. </li>
</ul>
<p id="jxMqHG"><strong>Three Goats:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="geNsBS">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong><span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> (-.118). Carl faced two batters, walked them both, threw a wild pitch, allowed an inherited runner to score and had two runs of his own score. </li>
<li id="fvfs2Q">
<strong>Goat: </strong><span>Tyler Chatwood</span> (-.063). Tyler threw two innings, allowed three hits and a run. Of course he also inherited a bases loaded no outs jam and allowed all three runners to score. But, Tyler Chatwood didn’t issue any walks. That’s something. </li>
<li id="L9EHlM">
<strong>Kid: </strong><span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> (-.060). I’m breaking a tie here as <span>Javier Baez</span> also had the same WPA. I’m more willing to just let a tie exist than I used to be, but Baez did hit a home run. At the end of the day, he gave the Cubs a better chance to win, however slight. Albert occupied the lead-off spot again as he has been doing against left handed pitchers. He was hitless in five at bats. I did go and look out of curiosity. Albert has a career .319/.350/.409 leading off. </li>
</ul>
<p id="GNTgJy"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong><span>Brian McCann</span> batted with one out and runners on the corners in the fourth inning. The score was still 0-0 at the time. McCann singled, scoring a run and once again placing runners on the corner. (.118)</p>
<p id="fbuxCX">*Cubs Play of the Game: <span>Ozzie Albies</span> was credited with a caught stealing of home immediately following the McCann single. (.088)</p>
<p id="GhWOFN"><strong>Cumulative Standings Top 3/Bottom 3:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="L9NPUt">Javier Baez 5</li>
<li id="cytXos">
<span>Willson Contreras</span> 5</li>
<li id="85c8pb">Ben Zobrist 5</li>
<li id="4BfByk">
<span>Kyle Hendricks</span> -3</li>
<li id="saDlxK">
<span>Randy Rosario</span> -3</li>
<li id="idtKhH">
<span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> -4</li>
<li id="Tspjkw">
<span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> -6</li>
</ul>
<p id="NtcFnj"><strong>Up Next: </strong>Now that spring training has ended, the Cubs start the regular season with a three game set in Milwaukee. That has to have been what they describe as extended spring training right?!?</p>
<p id="QfRvmp">The 1-5 Cubs travel to play the 6-1 <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>. The Brewers most recently swept the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> in a three game set and have now won five straight games, with the last four of them being one run wins. The Cubs have lost five games in the standings since last Saturday. </p>
<p id="QgPVu9"><span>Jose Quintana</span> will be on the mound. He is making his first start of the year after a four inning relief outing in Texas opening weekend. Last year he was 13-11 with a 4.03 ERA. Over his last five starts he is 2-1 with a 3.07 ERA. Five of the 10 runs he allowed over that stretch came in one start last August. Current Brewers have a line of 222/.260/.333 over 306 plate appearances. On so many levels and in so many ways, this is a game the Cubs need to win.</p>
<p id="Js4cvn"><span>Brandon Woodruff</span> is the opposing pitcher. Brandon is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA from his first start of the year. Last year, he was 3-0 with a 3.61 ERA over 42⅓ innings of work. He was also 3-2 with a 4.04 ERA over 17 starts and 71⅓ innings at Triple-A. The Cubs only have a total of 41 plate appearances against the 26-year-old right hander and have a batting line of .265/.390/.382 that includes a <span>Daniel Descalso</span> home run. None of the Cubs has more than six plate appearances against Woodruff. </p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/5/18296364/2019-cubs-heroes-and-goats-game-6Thomas Smith2019-04-05T08:00:00-05:002019-04-05T08:00:00-05:00Braves 9, Cubs 4: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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<figcaption>Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>I watched this game so you didn’t have to.</p> <blockquote>
<p id="sFWDGU"><em>How many times I’ve wondered</em><br><em>It still comes out the same</em><br><em>No matter how you look at it, think of it</em><br><em>You just got to do your own thing</em></p>
<p id="tHv7ct"><em>A rainy night in Georgia</em><br><em>A rainy night in Georgia</em><br><em>I believe it’s rainin’ all over the world — Brook Benton, </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaoWNICsZC8"><em>“Rainy Night In Georgia”</em></a></p>
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<p id="6BGKff">Not that the rain had much, or anything, to do with <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2019_04_04_chnmlb_atlmlb_1">the Cubs’ 9-4 loss to the Braves</a> Thursday night, their fifth defeat in a row, but it made the loss seem even more depressing than it actually was. </p>
<p id="UTRHge">You might have turned this game off after the disastrous fifth inning, and no one would have blamed you.</p>
<p id="RSHcfd">However, you are here to read a recap of the Cubs’ previous game, and so you shall have one.</p>
<p id="g5uz3U">This game was actually going along reasonably well, despite <span>Max Fried</span> taking a perfect game into the sixth inning. Through four innings, <span>Yu Darvish</span> had allowed just four hits, a couple of walks (one intentional) and one run. His velocity and location were much better than in his first start, and it looked like the Cubs might eventually break through and win this one. The fourth inning included <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-04/04/c15448ef-d1c35ab3-a81230e9-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">this heads-up defensive play [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="m9QMIg"><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://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-04/04/c15448ef-d1c35ab3-a81230e9-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
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<p id="SsDEhI">Then that awful fifth happened. There were a whole bunch of hits and walks, I don’t suppose you really need the details, do you? All you need to know is that Darvish and <span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> completely lost the strike zone, and on the rare occasion when they found it in that inning, Braves hitters smashed baseballs a long way. Five runs scored, and the game was essentially over at that point.</p>
<p id="hbTGMD">Darvish has thrown 6⅔ innings this season and issued 11 walks. That’s mind-boggling. The only other MLB pitcher in double figures in walks (10) is <span>Robbie Ray</span> of the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>, who has thrown four more innings than Darvish. Cubs pitchers have walked 41 this year, five more than the second-worst D-backs — who have played one more game. The Cubs’ <em>team</em> WHIP is 2.047 — that’s more than two baserunners per inning, every single inning they have played so far this year. No other team’s WHIP is higher than 1.71. Oh, and:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">46 runs allowed by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> this season are the most they have allowed in the first 6 games of a season since they allowed 57 in 1901</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1113997125480849408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2019</a>
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<p id="VBelyL">Oddly enough, with all the walks (six more of them in this game), <span>Tyler Chatwood</span> threw two innings without issuing a walk. That’s the first appearance of Chatwood’s Cubs career (26 total games) in which he did not walk anyone. So that’s something, I guess.</p>
<p id="EFNtaa">The Cubs scored some consolation runs in the ninth, including two on <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-04/04/9f5676d9-7d8ac130-bcd455ba-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">this monstrous home run by Anthony Rizzo [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="jXtwSD"><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://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-04/04/9f5676d9-7d8ac130-bcd455ba-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="JwifTJ"></p>
<p id="k08Py1"><span>Javier Baez</span> followed Rizzo to the plate and <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-04/04/36e04182-d1cc7e28-9327ae91-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">also sent a baseball out of the yard [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="bULBt0"><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://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-04/04/36e04182-d1cc7e28-9327ae91-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
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<p id="zFB4dd">The Cubs scored a fourth run in the ninth inning on an RBI groundout after a pair of walks, and that might have actually meant something if <span>Mike Montgomery</span> hadn’t been touched up for three runs in the seventh and eighth. Montgomery’s spring debut was delayed because of a minor shoulder issue and I have to wonder if that’s still bothering him. In four appearances and 2⅔ innings this year, MiMo has allowed nine baserunners (eight hits and a walk) and two home runs. Perhaps an IL stint is needed here?</p>
<p id="5bXk3V">All the walks have made for games that have dragged on and on:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 6 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> games this season (all 9-inning games) have averaged 3:29</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1114044555941294080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2019</a>
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<p id="QvPpLU">And that’s with the home team not batting in the ninth inning in four of the six games.</p>
<p id="u8Rrpa">This is some of the worst baseball the Cubs have played since they returned to contention in 2015, though I should remind you that even during the 103-win <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> season in 2016, they had a stretch where they lost nine of 10 and were outscored 71-42. Even with the pitching in seeming total disarray, this year’s Cubs are not having trouble hitting. They are leading the N.L. in BA (.307) and OBP (.398) and have scored 36 runs in six games, averaging six runs per game. Normally, you’d think that would be enough for a lot of winning, but not when you’re allowing almost eight runs per game (46 total runs allowed).</p>
<p id="XKpXeR"> It’s almost as if these guys have simply forgotten how to play baseball since they left Mesa.</p>
<p id="CBvxbw">At this point all they can do is try to shake it off and play better this weekend, though that will certainly not be easy against a good <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> team that’s off to a 6-1 start. </p>
<p id="0rvAZJ"><span>Jose Quintana</span>, who has an excellent career mark against the Brew Crew (and who flew ahed to Milwaukee earlier Thursday so he didn’t have to arrive with the team at 1:45 a.m. Friday), will go for the Cubs in the series opener Friday against Milwaukee’s <span>Brandon Woodruff</span>. Game time is 7:10 p.m. CT and TV coverage Friday will be via WGN.</p>
<p id="YHSDw6">It has to get better. It can’t get worse. Right? <em>Right?</em></p>
<p id="8W3gdL"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/5/18296571/cubs-braves-recap-yu-darvish-anthony-rizzo-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2019-04-04T21:05:00-05:002019-04-04T21:05:00-05:00Overflow thread 3: Cubs vs. Braves, Thursday 4/4, 6:20 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="3f5z6B">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/4/18295144/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-braves-thursday-4-4-6-20-ctAl Yellon2019-04-04T20:20:00-05:002019-04-04T20:20:00-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Braves, Thursday 4/4, 6:20 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="3f5z6B">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/4/18295141/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-braves-thursday-4-4-6-20-ctAl Yellon2019-04-04T19:20:00-05:002019-04-04T19:20:00-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Braves, Thursday 4/4, 6:20 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="3f5z6B">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/4/18295139/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-braves-thursday-4-4-6-20-ctAl Yellon2019-04-04T18:15:00-05:002019-04-04T18:15:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Braves, Thursday 4/4, 6:20 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="3f5z6B">Go get ‘em, Yu.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/4/18295136/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-braves-thursday-4-4-6-20-ctAl Yellon2019-04-04T16:00:00-05:002019-04-04T16:00:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves preview, Thursday 4/4, 6:20 CT
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<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Maybe today.</p> <p id="DQUAgC">Notes for today:</p>
<ul>
<li id="Jr1WO5">As bad as Cubs pitching has been, the offense has been that good. The Cubs lead the majors with a .330 batting average (60-for-182) and a .420 on-base percentage. The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> are a distant second with a .289 average and a .388 OBP. And the Cubs are averaging 6.40 runs per game thus far, third-highest in the N.L. behind the Dodgers (7.86) and <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> (7.80).</li>
<li id="YHpPNE">The Cubs have dropped four of their first five games to start a season for the first time since 2014, and for the fifth time since 2000. Tonight, the Cubs are looking to avoid their first 1-5 start since 2012. The Cubs are three games under .500 for the first time since completing the 2014 season with a 73-89 record.</li>
<li id="86yKMa">
<span>Jon Lester</span> became just the second Cubs pitcher in the last seven seasons to reach safely at least three times and record a quality start. The other? <span>Jake Arrieta</span>, who did it April 21, 2016 in Cincinnati, throwing his second career no-hitter while reaching base three times (two singles and a walk).</li>
<li id="JO07tY">
<span>Willson Contreras</span> last night hit his first homer of the season, and his 44th since making his debut in 2016. Those 44 homers rank fourth-most in that span among N.L. catchers behind <span>Yasmani Grandal</span> (73), <span>J.T. Realmuto</span> (50) and <span>Yadier Molina</span> (46). Contreras is also the first Cub since <span>Emilio Bonifacio</span> in 2014 to record multiple three-hit games within the Cubs’ first five games of the season. Prior to Bonifacio, <span>Starlin Castro</span> did that in 2011 and <span>Aramis Ramirez</span> did it in 2007.</li>
</ul>
<p id="ZdB79t">There is a chance of rain in the Atlanta area tonight, though it appears most of it will hold off until late enough to get the game in. Just in case, here’s the local radar:</p>
<div id="VRSSio"><center><img src="https://radar.weather.gov/lite/NCR/FFC_loop.gif"></center></div>
<p id="rAFQ7g"></p>
<p id="G5Gjc4">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="3IvQgQ"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="0Pn1Of">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is tonight's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> starting lineup. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EverybodyIn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EverybodyIn</a><br><br>Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSChicago?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBCSChicago</a>: <a href="https://t.co/rGCuW1XI7C">https://t.co/rGCuW1XI7C</a> <a href="https://t.co/MVjGJHsvqI">pic.twitter.com/MVjGJHsvqI</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1113871565966458881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2019</a>
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<p id="4o2ACL"><span>Kyle Schwarber</span> stays in the lineup vs. a LHP.</p>
<p id="paTjw6"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> lineup:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Braves</a> go for a sweep tonight at <a href="https://twitter.com/SunTrustPark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SunTrustPark</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChopOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChopOn</a> <a href="https://t.co/4cawdMX0KH">pic.twitter.com/4cawdMX0KH</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1113871391491788800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2019</a>
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<h2 id="axO7cl">
<span>Yu Darvish</span>, RHP vs. <span>Max Fried</span>, LHP</h2>
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<cite>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<cite>Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="WusNkm">Let’s not talk about Yu Darvish’s first start of 2019, which was a disaster.</p>
<p id="ZHvNxa">Let’s also not talk about Yu Darvish’s two starts (yes, two of eight!) against the Braves last year, which... also didn’t work out so well.</p>
<p id="zGump2">What can we talk about regarding Yu? Well... it would seem to me that coming off the good spring he had, this has to be the bottom. And despite his poor record vs. the Braves in 2018, overall current Braves are hitting .197 (14-for-71) against him with one home run (<span>Ender Inciarte</span>) and 30 strikeouts.</p>
<p id="VtwYUV">Those numbers, though a small sample size, seem somewhat encouraging.</p>
<p id="fj8Hl4">And it can’t get worse. Right? <em><strong>Right?</strong></em></p>
<p id="kRlhzy">Max Fried has made one relief appearance so far this year, his only outing of 2019, 1⅔ scoreless innings against the Phillies. He did not face the Cubs last year, so his last outing against them was five solid innings <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201709030.shtml">September 3, 2017</a> at Wrigley Field. He allowed one run that day, a home run to... someone who isn’t on the team right now, <span>Ian Happ</span>.</p>
<p id="VXZtaq">So, what to expect tonight? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯</p>
<p id="QMLyq4">Fried is a lefthander who is <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=13743&position=P#pitchtype">a fastball/curveball type</a>, rarely throwing a slider or changeup. Perhaps the Cubs can take advantage of that. In fact, the issue with the Cubs this year so far isn’t hitting. They’re hitting. It’s pitching and defense.</p>
<p id="7QKgKb">Today’s game is on NBC Sports Chicago. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Chicago and Atlanta markets).</p>
<p id="cxuSIp"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2019/04/04">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=2019_04_04_chnmlb_atlmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2019/ATL201904040.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/548910/pregame">SB Nation </a><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/548911/pregame">game preview</a></p>
<p id="c01E3n">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> site <a href="http://www.talkingchop.com/">Talking Chop</a>. If you do go there to interact with Braves 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 2019 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used in previous years. 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="cWIBoH">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/4/18293104/chicago-cubs-atlanta-braves-preview-thursdayAl Yellon