Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Mariners Wednesday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2019-05-02T09:30:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/182839732019-05-02T09:30:00-05:002019-05-02T09:30:00-05:002019 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 28
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<figcaption>Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Cubs sink Mariners 11-0 for fourth straight win.</p> <p id="hWaR3K">The <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> faced a good pitcher on Wednesday. That pitcher’s defense let him down a little bit, but the Cubs flat-out ambushed him in the second inning, plating six runs. Meanwhile, Cubs pitching was combining on a one-hit shutout. I use the word dominate in my stories and headlines quite a bit, but let’s be clear... this was as dominating a performance as you’ll see. We all expected that the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> weren’t quite as good as their fantastic start to the season. But their fall from grace has been epic and painful over the last week or so. </p>
<p id="2IZJYg">As we watch two teams headed in completely different directions, this is a good time for some perspective. I told you dozens of times last year that things were going to be all right. Depending on where you set your bar, things were all right. That team won 95 games and made the playoffs. No one gets a parade for that kind of season if it ends in an early playoff exit. But, that kind of season is an accomplishment. </p>
<p id="LndQsa">Anyway, I don’t want to bum anyone out thinking about the epic disaster that was the last handful of games for the 2018 Cubs. That isn’t my point. I’m here to tell you while things are great to try not to get too high. This team is now 15-6 since they started the season 1-6. That kind of pace would be a 116-win season. Even as someone who thought this team would win 97 games, I’m not buying any part of this being any kind of unstoppable juggernaut. </p>
<p id="r8168K">Nor am I buying the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> as a 110-win team. These teams are good, they aren’t that good. The <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> have cooled off considerably from their hot start. Do I believe they are going to finish well off of the pace in the Central? No. </p>
<p id="rIEN5T">There is a ton of baseball left. Injuries, scheduling, matchups and random dumb luck will work together to pick one of the Cubs, Cardinals and Brewers to win the Central. At least one of the other two has a reasonable chance of also making the playoffs. The <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> and <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> may be too adequate for three teams to come out of the Central. But regardless, I believe it is way too soon to pencil anyone in or book any postseason reservations. Things can change. </p>
<p id="hwA654">It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Enjoy the ride while the Cubs are sprinting towards the top. But buckle up, the next week and a half will see the Cardinals and Brewers come to town and those will be good measuring sticks. Nothing will be decided between any of these teams over that time period. But, it’s always good to get a litmus test as to where things stand. </p>
<p id="GTBoS6"><strong>Game 28, May 1: </strong>Cubs 11 at Mariners 0 (16-12)</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=2019-05-01&team=Mariners&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=2019-05-01&team=Mariners&dh=0&season=2019">FanGraphs</a></span>
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<p id="ZZDAGN"><strong>THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="6gKvSJ">
<strong>Superhero: </strong><span>Javier Baez</span> (.147). When it gets lopsided quickly and keeps going in that direction, what you did in your first at bat is huge. Baez hit a homer in his first at bat. He later added an RBI-double and another double besides. He scored two and drove in two. He’ll need rest soon, no doubt. But he was more than up to the challenge in this one.</li>
<li id="7mYmyL">
<strong>Hero: </strong><span>Jon Lester</span> (.089). When I watch a game, I do sometimes root for some guys to end up on the podiums a little harder than others. So I was happy Jon was allowed to throw seven shutout innings and end up way up here. He allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out eight. I did mention that this game was flat out domination right? The Mariners have been one of the highest scoring teams in baseball.</li>
<li id="LkI9iL">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong><span>Jason Heyward</span> (.086). I feel like one of the themes early in 2019 is massive reversals of fortune. The Cubs have struggled for years, even while being a generally top tier offensive team, with scoring runs with two outs. But suddenly, the Cubs are piling on two out runs. I’m also watching Jason Heyward, who struggled for three seasons as a Cub to catch any kind of a break, seemingly catch one or two every single day. I swear he already has more hits on weird bounces and seeing-eye hits than he’s had for the last three years combined. Jason found three holes on Wednesday in four at bats. He had two singles, a hustle double, a run scored and an RBI. </li>
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<p id="ffFzcr"><strong>THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="EWmhg5">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong><span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> (-.061). This one wasn’t close. Albert made three of the Cubs first eight outs in the game Wednesday. Like I said, what you do early is magnified for WPA in these blowouts. The Cubs as a team had 10 hits in 34 at bats in the game. That’s a .294 batting average which is pretty nifty. If you take Albert and his hitless in five at bats out of that number, it goes all of the way up to .345. </li>
<li id="4QLxfm">
<strong>Goat: </strong><span>Daniel Descalso</span> (-.001). Poor Daniel. Yes, he was hitless in two at bats. But the Cubs were up nine before he had his first at bat. They were already registering at 99.9% chance of winning. There was almost nothing he could have done to add any WPA.</li>
<li id="O2l6DP">
<strong>Kid: </strong><span>Dillon Maples</span>/<span>Taylor Davis</span> (.000). I can’t break this tie. Davis reached on a walk and came around to score a run. Maples struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning. Neither of these performances belong down here. Tough luck boys.</li>
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<p id="WQq8n9"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong><span>Javier Baez</span>’ solo homer leading off the second opened the flood gates. Javy’s WPA on that event was .111. This is his fourth time already producing a positive WPA play of the game. No one else has more than two (Bryant and Bote). </p>
<p id="HmTNqW">*Mariners Play of the Game: <span>Mitch Haniger</span> was the first Mariner hitter. He reached on a two-base throwing error. It was all downhill after that for the Mariners. (.061)</p>
<p id="WsG3Rj"><strong>Cumulative Standings Top/Bottom Three:</strong></p>
<p id="1LsDHj">(# = returned to minors)</p>
<ul>
<li id="CkUiPL">Javier Baez 9.5</li>
<li id="ZlrB4i">Jon Lester 7</li>
<li id="Ncdi95">
<span>Willson Contreras</span>/Jason Heyward 6</li>
<li id="SVXIwf">
<span>Kyle Hendricks</span>/<span>Yu Darvish</span>/<span>Kyle Schwarber</span> -6</li>
<li id="Tw1B0A">
<span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> -7.5</li>
<li id="V6WgbX">#<span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> -8</li>
</ul>
<p id="mNdrVk"><strong>Up Next: </strong>The Cubs head home with an off day Thursday. They’ll open a three game series with the Cardinals on Friday. The Cubs come in having won four in a row and seven of 10, all against teams with winning records. As I write this, the Cardinals are coming off of their fifth straight win on Wednesday. They’ll have another game on Thursday, so root for a 20+ inning game!</p>
<p id="QVOgMB">Kyle Hendricks is on the mound. Kyle is traditionally a slow starter and 2019 is no exception. He is 1-4 with a 5.33 ERA in 25⅓ innings of work across five starts. He lost the last time out, allowing 10 hits, a walk and seven runs against the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> in Arizona. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Kyle was 3-0 in four starts against the Cardinals in 2018 and had a 2.93 ERA over 30⅔ innings of work. Players on the current Cardinals 40-man roster have combined for 244 plate appearances against Kyle with a .748 OPS. <span>Marcell Ozuna</span> leads the way with a 1.157 OPS in 26 plate appearances. Marcell has had a strong start to his season (.961 in 114 PA in 2019 compared to a career .787), so he’ll be one to watch. </p>
<p id="TDrEiU"><span>Jack Flaherty</span> is the expected starter for the Cardinals. He is 3-1 with a 4.06 ERA in 31 innings of work across six starts. Last time out, he was fantastic against the Reds. He picked up a win for seven shutout innings. He allowed four hits, one walk and struck out four. He faced the Cubs three times last year and was 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA in 12⅔ innings of work. The Cubs have a total of only 55 plate appearances against Flaherty. Anthony Rizzo has a 1.056 OPS in nine plate appearances and Willson Contreras a 1.400 in five. </p>
<p id="FcfBU6">Flaherty, who will turn 24 after the regular season ends, is righthanded. He’s been pretty good against both right-handed hitters (.674) and left-handers (.685). </p>
<p id="oYV3PG">This looks like a tough matchup on paper.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/2/18526420/2019-cubs-heroes-and-goats-game-28Thomas Smith2019-05-02T08:00:00-05:002019-05-02T08:00:00-05:00Cubs 11, Mariners 0: Sweep-ness in Seattle
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<figcaption>Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The complaint department is closed and locked up tight after this win.</p> <p id="cicH7N"><strong>SEATTLE</strong> — I’m going to begin this recap of the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>’ 11-0 blowout win over the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> Wednesday afternoon by quoting the beginning of the game preview:</p>
<blockquote><p id="Soim7N">Here is what I would like for this afternoon’s game: A win, with less drama than Tuesday night.</p></blockquote>
<p id="U7jZrB">I think we can say we got that, with just about everything going the Cubs’ way.</p>
<p id="dQ3DKF">It started out weirdly. <span>David Bote</span>, usually sure-handed, made his second error in as many games on a ball that should have been a routine out, but he overthrew <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>. <span>Jon Lester</span>, though, retired the side without incident in the bottom of the first.</p>
<p id="N7ERM4">And then the Cubs offense exploded.</p>
<p id="Y1xlVG">First, <span>Javier Baez</span>, <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-05/01/cffca1a0-5c82b66e-e98c5b69-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">to the opposite field [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="JoIyHQ">That ball: <em><strong>Crushed!</strong></em></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Javier Baez (13) off LHP Marco Gonzales (8) - 110.8 mph, 29 degrees (430 ft Home Run)<br>88.2 mph Sinker<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> @ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mariners?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mariners</a> (T2) <a href="https://t.co/Wre9cgzxlb">pic.twitter.com/Wre9cgzxlb</a></p>— MLBBarrelAlert (@MLBBarrelAlert) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBBarrelAlert/status/1123723719288000513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2019</a>
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<p id="DSpgOS">(That was Javy’s 10th, not his 13th, but I like the optimism.)</p>
<p id="3eiRKJ">Then things came fast and furious. <span>Willson Contreras</span> singled, then <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> laid down a perfect bunt that rolled to a stop on the grass about 40 feet from the plate and about two inches from the foul-line dirt. Then Domingo Santana muffed what should have been an easy catch on a line drive by Bote and the bases were loaded, and that seemed to unnerve Marco Gonzales. Jason Heyward singled in a run to make it 2-0 and <span>Ben Zobrist</span> walked to make it 3-0. After <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> struck out, <span>Kris Bryant</span> drew another bases-loaded walk, 4-0. A sac fly by <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> put the fifth run on the board, bringing up Baez again. He doubled in Zobrist for the final run of the inning.</p>
<p id="bKsrPI">In all, 12 Cubs batted in the inning and six runs scored on five hits and after that, it was all <span>Jon Lester</span>.</p>
<p id="oGAhZx"><span>Ryon Healy</span> <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-05/01/80de264f-9ffa486d-91a34d06-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">blooped a single [VIDEO]</a> just out of reach of Zobrist with one out in the second. </p>
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<p id="eZcuvQ"></p>
<p id="QgOKtw">That was the only Mariners hit of the afternoon, and after that, Lester retired five straight Mariners before walking <span>Edwin Encarnacion</span> to lead off the fourth, Seattle’s final baserunner of the day. It was the Cubs’ first one-hitter since <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201806090.shtml">June 9, 2018</a>, a 2-0 win over the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> at Wrigley started by... Jon Lester.</p>
<p id="iAKcAA">In between all that, the Cubs had scored another run on a sac fly by Zobrist in the third, and two more in the fourth. Long balls again! <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-05/01/31f986ed-ff717b2d-93f55e27-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">First, Rizzo [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="XLZd4N"></p>
<p id="0UOSsV">That was Anthony’s seventh of the year, and he has started May out on a good note, going 1-for-3 with the homer and two RBI. He’s a hot hitter at the moment:</p>
<div id="VmguFy">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Anthony Rizzo last 11 games: .341/.451/.805, 4 HR. 10 RBI <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/1123754950843150337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2019</a>
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<p id="TwFXUn">Two batters later, Contreras <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-05/01/b39da4f2-93b85540-7d29ca3f-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">sent a baseball into orbit [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="xDimEx">You can see Santana taking about three steps and then watching that baseball land in the second deck, <em><strong>crushed!</strong></em></p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Willson Contreras (9) off RHP Chasen Bradford (3) - 113.1 mph, 22 degrees (440 ft Home Run)<br>89.6 mph Sinker<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> @ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mariners?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mariners</a> (T4) <a href="https://t.co/1y2nrCPCU0">pic.twitter.com/1y2nrCPCU0</a></p>— MLBBarrelAlert (@MLBBarrelAlert) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBBarrelAlert/status/1123738817201094659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2019</a>
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<p id="88eWye">The Cubs aren’t just hitting home runs, they are demolishing baseballs and hitting 430- or 440-foot blasts with regularity. Contreras went 2-for-3 with the homer, two runs scored and two RBI.</p>
<p id="aH6HYj">After that walk in the fourth inning, Lester set down the final 12 hitters he faced, the last one, Healy in the seventh, <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-05/01/1b89ba1d-86c76d45-3cbdb39e-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">on a call the Cubs challenged and got overturned [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="7IEKgd"></p>
<p id="OVMVhV">The ruling on the field was that the ball was trapped, and you can see Heyward begin to run off the field — so did the rest of the team, because they all saw what the review crew did. It did bounce — off the bottom of Heyward’s glove and right into it, never hitting the ground. Nice call by the review crew, and that’s an outstanding play by Heyward, not just to catch that ball but at that moment, the sun was blazing directly into a right fielder’s eyes. J-Hey has not only been great at the plate this year (and was 3-for-4 in this one), his defense has returned to its pre-2018 level, great to see.</p>
<p id="CH14c4">I thought at 97 pitches Lester might have come back out for the eighth, but Joe Maddon apparently felt it was better to rest his lefty for the rest of the game, so <span>Allen Webster</span> entered for the eighth and dispatched the Mariners on only eight pitches, and then Mariners catcher <span>Tom Murphy</span> pitched the ninth, the second time on this trip the Cubs have faced a position player pitching:</p>
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<p lang="ro" dir="ltr">Last 5 position player pitchers to face <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a><br>Tom Murphy today<br>Caleb Joseph Saturday<br>Hernán Pérez 4/5/2018<br>Scooter Gennett 8/14/2017<br>Daniel Descalso 8/1/2017</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1123756244219703296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2019</a>
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<p id="WFIpdp">They began the inning with a walk by <span>Taylor Davis</span>, who relieved Rizzo at first base in the seventh, and a double by Baez, his third hit of the game. Two sacrifice flies completed the scoring. Fun sac fly fact:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cubs: First team in majors with 4 sac flies in a game since Aug 26 2016 (MIN at TOR). First time Cubs have done it since SFs were split into their own category in 1954.</p>— Doug Kern (@dakern74) <a href="https://twitter.com/dakern74/status/1123761045229768704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2019</a>
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<p id="JfRyUY">Then <span>Dillon Maples</span> entered to throw the ninth.</p>
<p id="yFD7lA">This, <em><strong>this</strong></em> is what Dillon Maples can be. Granted that it was in an extremely low-leverage situation, but he trusted his fastball and threw it mostly for strikes, touching 98 on several pitches, and then got Mariners hitters on his knee-bending slider that hit 91 on the stadium radar gun. He did run full counts on the last two hitters, finishing up with a 17-pitch inning, but he was mostly around the zone. This is very, very encouraging, probably the best Maples has thrown since he’s been a Cub. More, please.</p>
<p id="rikc2Q">The 11-run margin of victory was the Cubs’ biggest since a 14-2 win over the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201805070.shtml">May 7, 2018</a> at Wrigley Field and their biggest on the road since a 16-5 thrashing of the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> in Denver, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL201804200.shtml">April 20, 2018</a>.</p>
<p id="nPaiUE">And so the Cubs reach four games over .500 for the first time this year, and complete a 4-1 road trip. After the 2-7 start on the road, the Cubs are now 7-1 in their last eight road games (including the sweep in Miami last month) and overall have gone 14-5 since that bad start to the season. The <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> also won Wednesday, so the Cubs still trail them by three games. St. Louis will play at Washington Thursday, so a Nats win could help out the Cubs.</p>
<p id="9Hb1wa">All in all, this was a fine trip to Seattle for the Cubs, and also for me, my first visit to the Mariners’ home park. The city’s great, lots of things to see and do, people are friendly, the ballpark is very nice and road wins are always nice things to have. It was also good to meet some BCBers who came to this series — today it was explosiononimpact who stopped by pre-game. This tweet sums up how many Cubs fans were at this series:</p>
<div id="AMJISh">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Asked a Mariner today about the crowd split, said he REALLY heard it on the Schwarber HR, usually you can hear a "pin drop" when opponent hits a go-ahead 8th inning homer he said</p>— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNChiCubs/status/1123710759412826113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2019</a>
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<p id="9r0ZAu">And the Cubs seem ready to take on the Cardinals in the first meeting of 2019 between the two division rivals. It’s been rainy and dismal this week in Chicago, but <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-87.65608275309206&lat=41.94831235002141">the weather forecast for Friday and beyond</a> is much better, and crowds should be big this weekend.</p>
<p id="oiRAjr">Friday, <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> will start for the Cubs against <span>Jack Flaherty</span>. Game time Friday is 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via NBC Sports Chicago.</p>
<p id="ztVWZV"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/2/18526376/cubs-mariners-recap-jon-lester-willson-contreras-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2019-05-01T19:40:00-05:002019-05-01T19:40:00-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Mariners, Wednesday 5/1, 5:40 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tXC_ckpjAql6fFF0vkHVHJuXDGc=/0x0:3731x2487/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63719520/usa_today_12620391.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="PnPybh">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/1/18519899/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-mariners-wednesday-5-1-5-40-ctAl Yellon2019-05-01T18:40:00-05:002019-05-01T18:40:00-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Mariners, Wednesday 5/1, 5:40 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iM3tBEgbr_qyFxuzaaKm-yPtsfE=/0x0:4678x3119/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63719339/usa_today_12620334.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="PnPybh">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/1/18519898/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-mariners-wednesday-5-1-5-40-ctAl Yellon2019-05-01T17:35:00-05:002019-05-01T17:35:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Mariners, Wednesday 5/1, 5:40 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/K5lDfNgaSH7VC86ju41gDrw3Owo=/390x358:4215x2908/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63719106/usa_today_12498177.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="PnPybh">Go get ‘em, </p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/1/18519894/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-mariners-wednesday-5-1-5-40-ctAl Yellon2019-05-01T15:30:00-05:002019-05-01T15:30:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Seattle Mariners preview, Wednesday 5/1, 5:40 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kl-gJyajq78eNocJwls1CA807EQ=/0x0:4365x2910/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63718461/1140428568.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs go for the sweep of this brief two-game set.</p> <p id="acu230"><strong>SEATTLE</strong> — Here is what I would like for this afternoon’s game: A win, with less drama than Tuesday night. I’m pretty sure you’d all be on board with that.</p>
<p id="ZyIcwT">Notes for today:</p>
<ul>
<li id="NNADgN">The Cubs have won three straight games. The team is 10-3 in its last 13 games and 12-4 in its last 16. After starting the season 1-6, the Cubs have gone 14-6 to put them at their current 15-12 record, a season-high three games over .500. </li>
<li id="GsODx2">Since joining the Cubs in 2015, Jon Lester is 5-0 with a 1.36 ERA (five earned runs in 33 innings) in five starts against A.L. West teams. That includes Opening Day this year where he earned the 12-4 win in Texas (two earned runs in six innings). Jon is 10-7 with a 3.58 ERA (48 earned runs in 120⅔ innings) in 20 interleague starts for the Cubs. More on Lester below.</li>
<li id="QgC31d">In his last 10 games, <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> has nine extra-base hits and batted .342 (13-for-38) with a 1.231 OPS.</li>
<li id="gpH0Lk">
<span>Kris Bryant</span>, who last night produced exit velocities of 105.4 mph (line out), 105.0 mph (fly out), 110.6 mph (double) and 108.3 mph (line out) to go along with a walk, has reached safely in 11 straight games since April 17, posting a .392 OBP in that span while walking more (eight times) than striking out (six).</li>
<li id="egGprl">The Cubs have scored 71 runs with two outs in an inning this year, third most in the majors behind only the Dodgers (75) and Mariners (74). Cubs hitters have a team OPS of .874 with two outs in an inning, tops in the majors. The Dodgers are second (.858).</li>
</ul>
<p id="M5NQNB"><strong>SITE NOTE:</strong> Because of the early-evening (Central time) start of this game and the likelihood that it will end around 9 p.m. CT, the recap of this game will post at 8 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, May 2.</p>
<p id="vjkuzP">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="3IvQgQ"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="84II39">
<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>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/yQZ9DSxGWx">https://t.co/yQZ9DSxGWx</a> <a href="https://t.co/K5AE2SiNmu">pic.twitter.com/K5AE2SiNmu</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1123663449312178177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="ubnoNT"><a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="t3Be0P">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mariners?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mariners</a> Gameday Info - May 1 vs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a>. Lineups, Game Notes & More: <a href="https://t.co/hQu18gqTM3">https://t.co/hQu18gqTM3</a> <a href="https://t.co/86kcanF2yC">pic.twitter.com/86kcanF2yC</a></p>— MarinersPR (@MarinersPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarinersPR/status/1123673881649328136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2 id="UM0moL">
<span>Jon Lester</span>, LHP vs. <span>Marco Gonzales</span>, LHP</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>
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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/0CfBf7CKlRZl4ty4z52w8lc09zQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16197993/usa_today_10737025.jpg">
<cite>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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</div>
<p id="YkU4Hd">Jon Lester returned from a hamstring injury and threw very well last Thursday against the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>. Overall this year he’s made four starts covering 19 innings, and has a 2.37 ERA, 1.211 WHIP and 19 strikeouts in 19 innings.</p>
<p id="tpTgwW">Jon last faced the Mariners <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201607290.shtml">July 29, 2016</a> at Wrigley Field. No one from that game is currently on the Mariners’ active roster, so that has limited predictive value. Current members of the Mariners are hitting .213 (23-for-108) against Jon with six home runs. Three of those are by <span>Edwin Encarnacion</span>, but overall Encarnacion is only 10-for-47 (.213) against Lester.</p>
<p id="RIuH39">Hey, look! Another former Cardinal for the Cubs to face. Hard to believe he’s only 27, seems like he’s been around for quite a while.</p>
<p id="ftD97G">Marco Gonzales was traded by St. Louis to the Mariners in 2017 for <span>Tyler O’Neill</span>. He made 29 starts for Seattle last year and posted a 4.00 ERA and 0.9 bWAR.</p>
<p id="7osAWL">This year he’s been pretty good, with a 2.80 ERA and 1.200 WHIP in seven starts. He has faced the Cubs only once in his career, August 30, 2014, and I provide <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN201408302.shtml">this boxscore</a> mainly for amusement value. The only current Cub he’s faced is <span>Javier Baez</span> (0-for-3).</p>
<p id="Dy4V9M">Gonzales has four pitches that he uses interchangeably, mainly relying on offspeed stuff since his fastball isn’t dominant. <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/statsd.aspx?playerid=15467&position=P&gds=&gde=&type=6">More on his pitch selections here.</a></p>
<p id="Zxb1kZ">Today’s game is on WGN.</p>
<p id="cxuSIp"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2019/05/01">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_05_01_chnmlb_seamlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2019/SEA201905010.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.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> site <a href="http://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Lookout Landing</a>. If you do go there to interact with Mariners 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="5e7WTp"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/1/18519908/chicago-cubs-seattle-mariners-preview-wednesdayAl Yellon