Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Pirates Monday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2019-04-09T08:00:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/180622152019-04-09T08:00:00-05:002019-04-09T08:00:00-05:002019 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 10
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<img alt="MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VaizxIziEF4PcTdVGEP8tWb-Skg=/534x56:3039x1726/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63375013/usa_today_12498276.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Hold on to your hats folks, this could get weird</p> <p id="2pKXWQ">For the first time in the long history of the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Chicago Cubs</a>, they’ve opened the season by scoring 10 or more runs five times in the first 10 games. That’s a nifty little feat. Unfortunately, it is accompanied by a 3-7 start. Last year, there was a lot of talk about the disparity in scoring in Cubs wins versus that in Cubs wins. The Cubs have averaged 12 runs per win so far. They’ve averaged just a shade over five runs in their seven losses. But here’s the deal about that. At just over five runs per game, they’d score over 830 runs. That number would be almost a 70 run improvement over the 2018 Cubs. And you can’t completely dismiss the runs they have scored in their wins. Today’s win came against <span>Jameson Taillon</span>, a talented young <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> starter.</p>
<p id="gjUboM">To my eye, through 10 games, the Cubs offense looks to be relentless in the way that the 2016 offense was. They work pitch counts, they look for pitches to drive and they try to keep the line moving. The ball is leaving the yard at a healthy rate, but it doesn’t seem like every batter is trying to hit a three run homer anymore. It looks to be working. </p>
<p id="cQPCax">Of course, the pitching had been a mess until the last two games. There is no hedging just how bad things had been. Even on Sunday, <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> legitimately gave up four runs in just four innings of work. There was nothing cheap in there and if anything, he could have allowed even more runs than he did. The bullpen did throw four scoreless innings though on Sunday and they added seven(!) more of them on Monday. Combined with a scoreless ninth on Saturday, the bullpen now has 12 scoreless innings in a row. Fortunately, with 11 innings of work in two days, they have Tuesday off. </p>
<p id="SnTngq">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="maTDoa"><strong>Game 10, April 8: </strong>Cubs 10, Pirates 0</p>
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<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2019-04-08&team=Cubs&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/livewins.aspx?date=2019-04-08&team=Cubs&dh=0&season=2019">FanGraphs</a></span>
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<p id="4R1Utt"><strong>Three Heroes: </strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="pAlT8L">
<strong>Superhero: </strong><span>Ben Zobrist</span> (.179). I see what you are doing Ben. I won’t question the lack of power numbers while you just keep getting on. Ben had a single, two walks, a run scored and two RBI in four plate appearances. </li>
<li id="Ph7qTr">
<strong>Honorable Mention: </strong><span>Jon Lester</span>, hitter (.124). Jon had a big RBI double to start the scoring in the second inning. He also scored a run before leaving with a tight hamstring. </li>
<li id="vmWbpr">
<strong>Hero: </strong><span>Brad Brach</span> (.067). Brach makes his debut in Heroes and Goats with a hero placement. He lands there with two innings of work that included one hit, one walk and three strikeouts. He picked up the win after Lester left early. He’s allowed only one run over his first six innings of work for the Cubs. That BB/9 has got to come down though (10.5).</li>
<li id="6KMG80">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong>Jon Lester (.054). Lopsided games produce weird WPA results. Jon lands here for two very good innings to start the game. He was touched for two hits to start the third and his velocity seemed to be down. It was the right decision to go get Jon. It’s a long season and the Cubs are going to need plenty of innings out of big Jon.</li>
</ul>
<p id="sOEvSo"><strong>Three Goats:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="lzDUrS">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong><span>Willson Contreras</span> (-.024). Willson has been one of the forces in the early going for the Cubs. Today though he was hitless in four at bats. He struck out three times. </li>
<li id="5WPPiC">
<strong>Goat: </strong><span>Kris Bryant</span> (-.014). Kris hit several balls pretty squarely today. One of them went for an RBI double. A couple of them found fielders and a couple of them were fouled out of play. But there was incremental progress. Unsurprisingly, a healthy Kris Bryant will break out soon.</li>
<li id="Zv70sB">
<strong>Kid: </strong><span>David Bote</span> (.000). I had to break a multi-way tie with this one as several players finished at .000. I gave it to Bote who is appearing in Heroes and Goats for the first time this year. David was hitless in two at bats. Everyone else who recorded a .000 was either 0-1 or threw a scoreless inning. </li>
</ul>
<p id="P7ertU"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong>Ben Zobrist batted with two outs, runners on second and third and the Cubs leading 1-0. He lined a single and it scored two runs, including Jon Lester who might have pulled a hamstring coming around to score. (.148)</p>
<p id="2Z7sYQ">*Pirate Play of the Game: Kris Bryant lined out for the first out in the first inning after a lead-off walk. (.033)</p>
<p id="629RVs"><strong>Cumulative Standings Top 3/Bottom 3: </strong></p>
<p id="KfwaUl">(# = returned to minors)</p>
<ul>
<li id="t5YwQW">Ben Zobrist 11</li>
<li id="bB3tJP">Willson Contreras 5</li>
<li id="JbxLHU">
<span>Javier Baez</span> 5</li>
<li id="lCQQng">Kris Bryant -5</li>
<li id="lwzgZB">
<span>Kyle Hendricks</span> -6</li>
<li id="U8rLwN">#<span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> -8</li>
</ul>
<p id="pv3cIa"><strong>Up Next: </strong>The teams are scheduled for a Tuesday off day. The series will resume on Wednesday, weather permitting. When the series resumes, the Cubs will look to <span>Yu Darvish</span> who will be making his third start of the season but first at home. Yu has thrown 6⅔ innings over two stars and has an 0-1 record and 8.10 ERA. He has only two starts against the Pirates, but the results have been good in those. He is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings of work. </p>
<p id="hIIoBL"><span>Jordan Lyles</span> will be the opposition. Jordan has made one start so far this year. In that one start, he was unscored upon in five innings of work. The 28 year-old right hander hasn’t been a regular starter since 2014 with the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>. He’s 2-2 with a 3.89 ERA against the Cubs in 12 appearances, half of which were starts. In his career, Jordan has an opponent OPS of .765 against right handed hitters and .816 versus left handed hitters. Expect to see much the same lineup as the Cubs deployed today. </p>
<p id="cqfnXF">If Yu can bounce back from two rough starts, this seems like a pitching match-up that could go well for the Cubs. </p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/9/18301140/2019-cubs-heroes-and-goats-game-10Thomas Smith2019-04-08T17:35:02-05:002019-04-08T17:35:02-05:00Cubs 10, Pirates 0: It was a beautiful day
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<figcaption>Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>You couldn’t have asked for a better home opener.</p> <p id="3GZMfs">The weather was better than just about anyone could remember for a Wrigley Field season opener.</p>
<p id="fQXUPj">The ballpark looked beautiful, the 1060 Project to restore and renovate it nearly complete.</p>
<p id="7Gulm4">And the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> capped off a perfect Monday afternoon of baseball with a 10-0 demolition of the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a>, finally showing us the way we thought they’d be playing all season.</p>
<p id="Mygp7i"><span>Jon Lester</span> threw two very good innings and then the offense got going, thanks in large part to some sketchy Pirates defense. An error on a ground ball by <span>Daniel Descalso</span> which would have been the third out put Descalso on second base. <span>Jason Heyward</span> was intentionally passed to pitch to Lester.</p>
<p id="uAhGis"><a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-04/08/e7d2cb9d-394d2d99-0471d3bf-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Jon’s been a hitter on fire this year [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="nqQkM1"></p>
<p id="7T5XcC">Lester’s RBI double brought in what turned out to be the only run the Cubs needed, with Heyward taking third. <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-04/08/87cc5548-be702ea8-881426a3-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Ben Zobrist followed [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="QOx6Lp"></p>
<p id="oLA1En">That slide into the plate by Lester would come into play later on. Meanwhile, the Cubs offense kept going. <span>Kris Bryant</span> was hit by a pitch and <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> singled in Zobrist. <span>Javier Baez</span> singled in Bryant and it was 5-0, and then the Pirates kicked the ball around when <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> hit what could have been an inning-ending ground ball. Another run scored and the Cubs had a six-run inning, and Wrigley Field felt alive.</p>
<p id="PqA4bx">Lester gave up hits to the first two hitters he faced in the third, there were meetings with coaches and players and the trainer, and Jon left the game in favor of <span>Brad Brach</span>. That slide into the plate apparently caused this:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jon Lester exited today's game due to left hamstring tightness. <a href="https://t.co/B8mqm3voI8">pic.twitter.com/B8mqm3voI8</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1115337191763394561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2019</a>
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<p id="jgXsla">Here’s where I could go into my usual rant about “pitchers shouldn’t be running the bases,” but I’ll spare you that because I’m in such a good mood after this win. Fortunately, this injury does not appear serious:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lester will have more tests done on his left hamstring Tuesday. He said he didn’t feel a pop, just a cramping sensation: “In my mind, I’m making my next start. ... Tomorrow will tell us more information.”</p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1115373515333668864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2019</a>
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<p id="9KaZz4">That’s good news, and with an off day Tuesday the Cubs can give Jon extra rest. You know, yes, I admit, it’s fun to see pitchers hit and contribute to the offense, but in my view the risk of injury like this is too great.</p>
<p id="A5dcEq">Anyway, that meant the bullpen had to step up, and that was a scary proposition considering how bad the pen had been the first nine games. Fortunately, this game was the one where they all decided to shine. Brach, <span>Brandon Kintzler</span>, <span>Randy Rosario</span> and <span>Pedro Strop</span> combined for seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and a pair of walks and striking out seven. That’s just outstanding relief work. Fun fact time!</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> appearances this season of at least 2 innings with no runs allowed:<br><br>First 9 games: 0<br>Today: 4 (Lester, Brach, Kintzler & Rosario)<br><br>Of course, the relievers had to go longer than usual because of the Lester injury, but still...</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1115365348990169090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2019</a>
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<p id="cCXj78">That’s just outstanding. Keep up the good work, guys.</p>
<p id="TraFx9">With a 6-0 lead the cubs could have coasted, but they scored two more in the third and in the fourth, <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-04/08/ca283726-6c171a4a-f8ee4fec-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Schwarber came up with Javier Baez on base [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="0yd6cs"></p>
<p id="1WGIi1">That ball: Crushed!</p>
<div id="vmReQu">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kyle Schwarber (4) off LHP Steven Brault (1) - 109.7 mph, 23 degrees (411 ft Home Run)<br>92.9 mph Four-Seamer<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pirates?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pirates</a> @ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> (B4) <a href="https://t.co/hq2TBsaqfI">pic.twitter.com/hq2TBsaqfI</a></p>— MLBBarrelAlert (@MLBBarrelAlert) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBBarrelAlert/status/1115344967399104513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2019</a>
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<p id="4AWqDv">Also:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">In 2018, it took Kyle Schwarber until September 23rd to homer off a lefty.<br><br>His homer today was off a lefty, and it's only April 8th. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a></p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1115349464766722050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2019</a>
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<p id="A9JOy7">And, off a lefthander and to the opposite field!</p>
<p id="7JqL8T">Once that 10-0 score was put up, both managers started emptying their benches. All the position players on both rosters got into the game, giving some rest to some Cubs regulars, and neither team got close to scoring the rest of the way.</p>
<p id="foWjL0">Pedro Strop, who had been a bit shaky earlier this year, threw the ninth and got himself into trouble with a leadoff single and walk. After a strikeout, the Cubs ended the game on a slick double play started by Baez, who stopped a ball headed for center field, flipped backhanded to <span>David Bote</span>, whose strong throw to first got <span>Colin Moran</span> for the final out.</p>
<p id="ZH0oH3">Wish I had video of that last play to show you, but it’s not available. Trust me, it was a good one.</p>
<p id="Sy0XPo">Fun fact time again!</p>
<div id="VAaeoK">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> have been a Major League team since 1876.<br><br>This is the first time they have ever scored 10+ runs in 5 of their first 10 games.</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1115345921599000577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2019</a>
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<p id="FIzHjn">And today’s 10-run margin of victory now means the Cubs have a 3-7 record with a run differential of ... +1. It would seem to me that the season-beginning road trip was the anomaly, and the Cubs could easily begin a long winning streak with this victory. Let’s hope so.</p>
<p id="VMUgTw">Wrigley Field opening days can often be a bit chaotic as fans and gameday employees get used to the routine again. I can report to you that today was one of the best home openers on that front that I can recall. Maybe it was the good weather having everyone in a good mood, maybe it was better preparation, but in general things at the gate and inside the park went quite smoothly. I didn’t have any issues with the new mobile tickets, and many of the familiar faces among the gameday folks were quite helpful. Kudos to all.</p>
<p id="iTmZS1">The Cubs will have Tuesday off and will resume the series against the Pirates Wednesday evening — <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-87.65577748417854&lat=41.948225697014294">weather permitting</a>, and right now it doesn’t look very permissive:</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="DZE6x7"><strong>Wednesday</strong></p>
<p id="ihO7N0">A chance of rain and snow before 9am, then rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 39. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.</p>
<p id="V5f8cB"><strong>Wednesday Night</strong></p>
<p id="k7l7SS">A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 37. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.</p>
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<p id="4QR0gE">Yuck. As good as today’s weather was, it will turn around in an instant and become more winterlike again. “Little or no snow accumulation”? Is that supposed to be encouraging? I realize the Pirates return two more times later this season, but you can be sure that the Cubs will try very hard to play at least one of the two games Wednesday or Thursday (the Thursday forecast isn’t much better). If only they could play one of those games Tuesday, when the weather will be nice.</p>
<p id="RIPQSY">If they play, <span>Yu Darvish</span> will go for the Cubs and <span>Jordan Lyles</span> for the Pirates. Game time Wednesday is 7:05 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via WGN.</p>
<p id="xVLEnQ"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/8/18301179/cubs-pirates-recap-kyle-schwarber-jon-lester-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2019-04-08T16:05:00-05:002019-04-08T16:05:00-05:00Overflow thread 3: Cubs vs. Pirates, Monday 4/8, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="BUxmSK">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/8/18298173/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-pirates-monday-4-8-1-20-ctAl Yellon2019-04-08T15:20:00-05:002019-04-08T15:20:00-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Pirates, Monday 4/8, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="BUxmSK">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/8/18298170/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-pirates-monday-4-8-1-20-ctAl Yellon2019-04-08T14:20:00-05:002019-04-08T14:20:00-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Pirates, Monday 4/8, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="BUxmSK">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/8/18298167/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-pirates-monday-4-8-1-20-ctAl Yellon2019-04-08T13:15:00-05:002019-04-08T13:15:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Pirates, Monday 4/8, 1:20 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/U5jShDad_4ZsdJ_CZeeiiMO0VwQ=/0x275:3839x2834/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63365569/1140250673.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="BUxmSK">Go get ‘em, Jon.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/8/18298164/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-pirates-monday-4-8-1-20-ctAl Yellon2019-04-08T11:30:00-05:002019-04-08T11:30:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates preview, Monday 4/8, 1:20 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QdByzTXvJBLSIyQIL8cHRSoycpA=/0x0:4248x2832/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63372355/usa_today_12493970.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Perhaps things will go better in the Friendly Confines.</p> <p id="bOYs66">Today’s home opener will feature the best weather we’ve had for a Wrigley Field opener in many, many years — I can’t recall the last time <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-87.65583716332912&lat=41.94835935455299">forecast conditions were this pleasant</a> for an opener. (The rest of this week, though, Chicago weather won’t be as conducive to baseball.)</p>
<p id="VeBdu4">Home opener notes:</p>
<ul>
<li id="MmaQZc">
<span>Jon Lester</span> will start this year’s home opener after earlier making the start on Opening Day in Texas. Lester also started the Cubs season opener and home opener in 2017. Prior to Lester, Rick Sutcliffe did that in 1985, 1986 & 1988.</li>
<li id="zZFlPJ">Lester will be looking to become the first Cub to register the win in the home opener and the road opener in the same season since Pete Alexander in 1922 (<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN192204120.shtml">April 12</a> at Cincinnati, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN192204200.shtml">April 20</a> at home also vs. the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>).</li>
<li id="58GDoU">The Cubs haven’t done well in home openers in recent years. Over the last 10 seasons (2009-18), the Cubs are 4-6 in the first Wrigley Field game of each season. They won in 2009, 2010, 2016 and 2017. They lost five consecutive home openers from 2011-15 and dropped last year’s, also to the Pirates.</li>
</ul>
<p id="JBpsim">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="3IvQgQ"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="gGyHYj">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is today's lineup for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> home opener. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EverybodyIn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EverybodyIn</a> <br><br>Stream on Facebook live: <a href="https://t.co/AKrKqyjRTD">https://t.co/AKrKqyjRTD</a> <a href="https://t.co/fe7ZMA5tg2">pic.twitter.com/fe7ZMA5tg2</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1115254249762566144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="S2sAfW"><a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="aWAWsO">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let's keep it rolling.<br><br>Here's our lineup, presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/Honda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Honda</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoBucs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGoBucs</a> <a href="https://t.co/GUTf2NMsak">pic.twitter.com/GUTf2NMsak</a></p>— Pirates (@Pirates) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/1115256444604039169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<h2 id="lbIZWW">
<span>Jon Lester</span>, LHP vs. <span>Jameson Taillon</span>, RHP</h2>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hogjdH0gp0M67jze-Hs1YKDfnGc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16014530/usa_today_12381337.jpg">
<cite>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-float-right"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/j832kaBr8vxWOynMhLn6CbxpDWM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16014531/usa_today_12381914.jpg">
<cite>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="SKFVc6">The results of Jon Lester’s two starts this year have been decent enough, though, like most of his pitching teammates, there have been too many walks (3.8 per nine innings, which, if sustained for the entire season, would be his highest rate since 2007). He did, though, pitch six solid innings in both starts and the Cubs really should have won both of them (the bullpen blew the second one).</p>
<p id="jTRH8Z">Last year, Jon made six starts against the Pirates and posted a 3.09 ERA and 1.229 WHIP. The Cubs won five of the six games. Lifetime, Jon has a 3.18 ERA and 1.328 WHIP in 18 starts against the Pirates, and overall current Pirates are hitting .245 (52-for-212) against Jon with five home runs (two by <span>Francisco Cervelli</span>).</p>
<p id="dHIH06">Jameson Taillon has also made two starts already this year, a decent outing vs. the Reds and a very good one vs. the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> (seven innings, three hits, one run, no walks, five strikeouts).</p>
<p id="XGFsmn">Taillon made three starts vs. the Cubs in 2018 and posted a 2.29 ERA and 1.271 WHIP in 19 innings. <span>Javier Baez</span> is a particular nemesis of Taillon’s: 11-for-19 (.579) with four doubles and two home runs. <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>, too: 9-for-20 (.450) with a double and two home runs.</p>
<p id="fAzdjr">Today’s game is on ABC7 Chicago. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Pirates market territories).</p>
<p id="kh91sR">ABC7 will also have a live pregame show featuring Mark Giangreco, Jim Rose, Dionne Miller and Windy City LIVE’s Ryan Chiaverini and Val Warner beginning at noon CT. Among their guests will be native Chicagoan and comedian Jeff Garlin.</p>
<p id="cxuSIp"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2019/04/08">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_08_pitmlb_chnmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2019/CHN201904080.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw"><span>SB Nation game preview</span></p>
<p id="c01E3n">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> site <a href="http://www.bucsdugout.com/">Bucs Dugout</a>. If you do go there to interact with Pirates 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>
<p id="9gBOuf"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/8/18298017/chicago-cubs-pittsburgh-pirates-preview-mondayAl Yellon