Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Cardinals Friday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2019-06-01T10:00:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/184097932019-06-01T10:00:00-05:002019-06-01T10:00:00-05:002019 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 55
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p> A pitcher’s duel marred by some questionable late umpiring</p> <p id="unyARY">I hope there is no question (there is always question) who the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> Player of the Game was in this one. <span>Yu Darvish</span> threw six innings allowing only one run. And he drove in the Cubs only run in the game. Yu closes the book on May having allowed 18 ER in 32⅓ innings (5.01 ERA). It’s not great and in fact is only a slight bit better than April (5.02 ERA). If I pull back three more starts though, over his last nine starts, he is at 24 ER in 49 innings (4.41 ERA). I realize that for the kind of money he’s being paid, everyone is hoping for more. The problem is, that <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> start is in there from his last time out. Six runs in seven innings. I really want to just drop that game from his record. All of those numbers would look much better without that game. I’m not wanting to drop the five runs in four innings against the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>. In that one, he simply got knocked around (and then bailed out by his offense). But the Reds game was different. He was asked to go very deep in the game and he did exactly that, but at great expense to his season line (he allowed six runs and 12 hits). </p>
<p id="QjSJpc">I know, I’ve moved into the Yu apologist territory. I’m not afraid to be there. I’ve been there for <span>Jason Heyward</span> and taken a bit of abuse here and there. These guys are human being and these guys are busting their butts trying to get the job done in part for us, the fans of their team. I get as irritated or even more irritated when a guy is just mailing it in. But Heyward has shown up to spring training a few years running getting in extra work and we heard the same stories about Yu this year. I’m just going to keep saying it. Don’t sleep on Yu. I believe he’s about to take off. </p>
<p id="TgZe6n">The rest of this game? Meh. The offense sputtered. The long ball abandoned the Cubs, at least for a day. If you are prone to believing in such things you can blame Al for cursing them. Or you could tip your hat to <span>Miles Mikolas</span> who is a very talented pitcher who has really righted his ship after a tough start to the season. That Hicks kid ain’t bad either. </p>
<p id="Y6XI60">Unfortunately, what I’ll remember about this game was umpiring. In the Cardinals half of the ninth inning, a fair ball down the line was called foul. That would have undoubtedly been a leadoff double for <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span>. That would have been a tall order to avoid a ninth inning loss after that. Instead, Goldschmidt struck out. In the top of the 10th, that same third base umpire called a checked swing on Descalso that I was pretty certain was a swing. And then the last straw was a <span>Dillon Maples</span> pitch that was well within the strike zone on a 3-2 pitch to Harrison Bader. You pretty much knew it was over after that walk. That was a tough one for Maples who unraveled after that. He still has all of the talent to be a closer, but he is going to need a few breaks. Still, no one puts the ball on play against him, let alone actually get hits against him. </p>
<p id="vfHGpn">I will say this after watching a whole game of <span>Victor Caratini</span> behind the plate. I miss having a David Ross-like catcher. One thing about the unfortunate Maples walk. Caratini moved his glove more than a few inches on a pitch that was in the zone. My catching days ended very, very far away from a big league field, but I always believed you never try to move it more than an inch. I wanted to move it a fraction closer to the center of the plate on pretty much every pitch and then I wanted to hold it still and let the umpire make his call. I always feel like the wild movement of the catcher’s glove leads to the impression that it was not a strike. If I were an A.L. GM for a contending team, I’d be trying very hard to pry Vic Caratini away from the Cubs. I’d be offering my defense-first catcher and a very strong prospect to try to get him. His ability to capably field the position and have a decent bat from both sides of the plate is quite an asset. It would be a better asset for an AL team where he could also get some time at DH and maybe some starts at first. </p>
<p id="XFi3Qq">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="sjwZBK"><strong>Game 55, May 31: </strong>Cubs 1 at Cardinals 2 </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=2019-05-31&team=Cardinals&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=2019-05-31&team=Cardinals&dh=0&season=2019">FanGraphs</a></span>
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<p id="TQ8vgK"><strong>THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="1DLCbB">
<strong>Superhero: </strong>Yu Darvish (.233). Six innings, three hits, three walks, one run. He struck out six. Two first inning walks put him behind the eight ball early. Other than that, he was fantastic.</li>
<li id="Q0JsGP">
<strong>Hero: </strong><span>Brandon Kintzler</span> (.130). The going rate for a scoreless inning in a tie game in a decisive inning is .130. Brandon threw a perfect ninth (perhaps aided by a bad call). He struck out two. </li>
<li id="7VQm6x">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong><span>Daniel Descalso</span> (.117). His pinch hit walk in the tenth nudges out a single and two walk performance for Jason Heyward. </li>
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<p id="IDpHKM"><strong>THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="9eGEb3">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong><span>Kyle Schwarber</span> (-.188). Hitless in five at bats with two strikeouts. </li>
<li id="Hqe5PD">
<strong>Goat: </strong><span>Steve Cishek</span> (-.170). This was much earlier, but reminds me of <span>Brandon Morrow</span> in the opening series against the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> last year. Steve warmed in the eighth, warmed in the ninth, sat down in the tenth, then was rushed into the game after Dillon Maples walked consecutive hitters to load the bases. Steve was thrown into a no-win situation and it went exactly as was expected. </li>
<li id="iOEOMt">
<strong>Kid: </strong>Dillon Maples (-.138). Dillon would be greatly aided by robot umps. His pitches have a lot of movement. Laz Diaz appeared to call two different pitches in the zone balls in the same plate appearance. Given the horrible probability of getting out of the jam once Carpenter got to the plate, I’d have actually just let Maples pitch. Carpenter virtually never hits the ball on the ground, so you had to get a strikeout or pop up. Maples, shaken confidence and all, was your best bet to do that. I visit the mound, remind him how awesome his stuff is and let him know that I believe in him. </li>
</ul>
<p id="pBoNK3"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong>The Matt Carpenter single to end the game was the play of the game. (.170)</p>
<p id="DQR6v4">*Cubs Play of the Game: <span>Addison Russell</span> followed a Jason Heyward single with one of his own in the fourth inning to put runners at first and second with no outs. (.067). A short fly out from Victor Caratini and a double play ball off the bat of <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> killed that very promising scoring chance. </p>
<p id="cwxruB"><strong>Cumulative Standings Top/Bottom 3: </strong></p>
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<li id="Wazw0t">
<span>Anthony Rizzo</span> 14.5</li>
<li id="OAbNac">
<span>Willson Contreras</span> 9.5</li>
<li id="QVMhSP">
<span>Tyler Chatwood</span> 8.5</li>
<li id="qXTYUd">Jason Heyward/Yu Darvish -7</li>
<li id="Y2ZKSv">
<span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> -10</li>
<li id="W3dFUW">Kyle Schwarber -11.5</li>
</ul>
<p id="fpSdfk"><strong>Up Next: </strong>The Cubs will be trying to avoid back-to-back and five of six and eight of ten losses. The Cardinals will be seeking a third straight win. They haven’t done that since April 29-May 1. Those games were part of the series just before the Cubs swept the Cardinals at Wrigley Field to start their tailspin. You just know they’d love to return the favor. </p>
<p id="9nubV7">The Cubs will have <span>Jose Quintana</span> on the hill. Jose is 4-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 62⅔ innings on the year. Last time out he was hit hard by the Reds, allowing 12 hits and six runs (five earned) in 5⅓ innings. He struck out only two and walked one. Jose did face the Cardinals in that series in April and he was very good in that one, throwing six innings and allowing eight hits, two walks and two runs. His results against the Cardinals are a mixed bag. Over his last five starts against them, he is 2-3 but has a 4.32 ERA in 25 innings. He’s allowed three runs or less in four of the five starts and in the one where he allowed three runs, all of them were unearned. Current Cardinals have 174 plate appearances against Q with a .920 OPS. <span>Dexter Fowler</span> has the most PA at 27 and has a 1.277 OPS in those at bats. <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> has also hit Q hard (1.765 in 12 PA, including two HR). Even opposing starter <span>Jack Flaherty</span> has a hit in his only career at bat against Jose.</p>
<p id="wYqWOa">Flaherty is just 23 years old, but this is already the third different big league season he’s appeared in. Jack is 4-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 59⅔ innings. Last time out, he received a no decision despite allowing three hits, no walks and no runs over six innings against the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a>. He struck out seven. Over his last seven starts, he is 3-2 with a 3.24 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 41 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings of work. He faced the Cubs in the series in Wrigley Field and lost a game started by <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> (the 81 pitch game). He threw 5⅔ innings and allowed four hits, four walks and three runs (two earned). He struck out nine. In four career starts against the Cubs, he is 1-2 with 3.93 ERA in 18⅓ innings (with 28 strikeouts). </p>
<p id="2gfVud">Flaherty, a right-handed pitcher, has allowed a .631 OPS against right-handed hitters but a .734 to lefties. These will be the kinds of games where you’d love to see if <span>Carlos Gonzalez</span> has anything left in the tank (but instead you’ll see Daniel Descalso this weekend). Current Cubs have just 78 plate appearances against Flaherty. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo each have 12 of those. KB has a .542 OPS (just one hit in 12 PA, with three walks and a HBP) while Rizzo has a 1.667 (five hits, including a double and a homer, two walks and a hit by pitch). </p>
<p id="EPI1LK">This matchup ain’t pretty on paper. Let’s hope the Cubs can get back on the winning track. </p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/6/1/18648206/2019-cubs-heroes-and-goats-game-55Thomas Smith2019-06-01T08:00:00-05:002019-06-01T08:00:00-05:00Cardinals 2, Cubs 1: The offense disappears, again
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<figcaption>The man who drove in the only Cubs run Friday night | Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>... and some bad umpiring helped the Cardinals win.</p> <p id="Pi4Ebg">Before I unpack everything about <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2019_05_31_chnmlb_slnmlb_1">the Cubs’ 2-1 loss to the Cardinals</a> Friday night, I want to call your attention to one pitch in the 10th inning.</p>
<p id="ZrCaSy">Specifically, pitch 6 in this sequence:</p>
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<p id="o2F3gN">That’s a strike. No question about it. And yet, plate umpire Laz Diaz called it ball four to <span>Harrison Bader</span>. <span>Dillon Maples</span>’ sliders have quite a bit of movement on them, and that one fooled Diaz.</p>
<p id="42tdcd">If Diaz makes the correct call, that’s the second out of the inning and there’s just one runner on second base. Instead, now there are runners on first and second with just one out. Maples then walked <span>Jedd Gyorko</span> and Joe Maddon brought in <span>Steve Cishek</span> to face <span>Matt Carpenter</span>, who singled in the winning run on Cishek’s second pitch.</p>
<p id="Mez1zj">Diaz missed quite a few calls in this game, some in favor of the Cubs. But that one was so egregious and could have been a factor in the Cubs losing the game. And that’s not just me talking, that’s Joe Maddon:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is Maddon’s postgame comments on the Cubs’ RISP woes, and the 10th-inning call that helped set Cardinals up for the walk-off win. <a href="https://t.co/cv93b7tf9s">pic.twitter.com/cv93b7tf9s</a></p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1134680921511276544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2019</a>
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<p id="LqzvN5">And more on Diaz’ multiple missed calls:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here are the ball and called strike calls for both Cubs and Cardinals pitchers tonight. The ball-four call on Maples loomed large given inning/situation, but there were missed calls on both sides. <a href="https://t.co/169W7dE9ss">pic.twitter.com/169W7dE9ss</a></p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1134683953607139331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2019</a>
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<p id="wzC7gW">If we’re not going to have an automated strike zone — and I’m all in favor of that, as you know — perhaps at least umpires and MLB might consider getting umpires who are bad at calling balls and strikes out of that position. There’s no rule that <em>requires</em> umpires to simply rotate through all the bases as they go through the season. Why not simply figure out who the best umpires are at pitch calling and let those men do that job, and keep the rest of the guys on the bases?</p>
<p id="dL0Fsi">Something to consider, anyway.</p>
<p id="LUNRxF">Now that I have that off my chest, let’s go back and look at the rest of this game, one in which the Cubs had multiple chances to score more than that one run. That includes the first inning, when they had <span>Miles Mikolas</span> possibly on the ropes that early, loading the bases with two out. But <span>Addison Russell</span> lined to right to end the inning.</p>
<p id="o6GOck">The Cardinals scored a run off <span>Yu Darvish</span> in the first inning after Darvish walked the first two hitters he faced. Two fly balls scored that run. But after that, Darvish settled down and threw probably the best game he’s had as a Cub. Overall: Six innings, two hits, three walks (just one walk after the first inning), six strikeouts, 93 pitches. That pitch count is very efficient, considering that on <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201905090.shtml">May 9</a> against the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> he threw 97 pitches in only four innings.</p>
<p id="ecozUd">The Cubs tied the game in the second. <span>Victor Caratini</span> doubled on a ball that bounced into the seats and advanced to third on an infield out.</p>
<p id="5dRkSX"><a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-05/31/c0ec0817-81d9c9b1-074fad5f-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Then Darvish helped himself out with the bat. [VIDEO]</a></p>
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<p id="YQQb62">Darvish is not a very good hitter, but he hit the ball deep enough to score Caratini, just his second career RBI. (The other one came on a solo home run in 2016.)</p>
<p id="6aEqz9">The Cubs had another chance to score in the fourth when <span>Jason Heyward</span> and Russell led off with singles. But Caratini flied to center and <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> hit into an inning-ending double play.</p>
<p id="6WttvP">In the fifth, <span>Javier Baez</span> and <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> pulled off an outstanding defensive play. <span>Dexter Fowler</span> led off with a walk and <span>Kolten Wong</span> laid down a bunt. Rizzo had no play at first and <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-05/31/2de09a7f-5d98124d-02ecef36-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">fired to Baez covering second [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="C7bZ6h">Fowler didn’t slide, stepped off the base and was tagged out by Baez, who pointed right at Fowler’s foot to alert second-base umpire Jeff Nelson of the play, but Nelson was right there to make the call anyway. Great heads-up play by both Rizzo and Javy.</p>
<p id="cdiiag">In the sixth, Baez walked with one out. Then he tried to steal second and was thrown out easily. You could tell that Javy is still not quite 100 percent from that heel injury suffered almost two weeks ago. Frankly, he should have just stayed put, as <span>Matt Wieters</span>, filling in for the injured <span>Yadier Molina</span>, is pretty good at throwing out runners (32 percent for his career).</p>
<p id="QU4QFx">Almora tripled with two out in the seventh, as his hit got past a diving <span>Bader</span>. <span>David Bote</span> batted for Darvish and flied to center and the game remained tied.</p>
<p id="jDEKqN">The Cubs bullpen did an excellent job in the seventh, eighth and ninth. <span>Kyle Ryan</span>, <span>Brad Brach</span> and <span>Brandon Kintzler</span> retired all nine hitters they faced, three by strikeout. Those guys have had their struggles at times, but in this game, they were outstanding.</p>
<p id="N474E0">But the Cubs couldn’t do anything in those innings, either. In the 10th, <span>Daniel Descalso</span> walked (batting for Kintzler) with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. But <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> struck out and <span>Kris Bryant</span> grounded out.</p>
<p id="uHHXT9">That set up the disastrous 10th inning. </p>
<p id="qiHxmC">Extracurricular stuff: As expected, Bryant got booed every time he came to bat, as Cardinals fans wouldn’t let go KB’s joking comment about St. Louis being “boring” at the Cubs Convention last January. The Cubs got in on the fun:</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> having some fun in the dugout knowing what the reaction in STL would be for their guy <a href="https://twitter.com/KrisBryant_23?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KrisBryant_23</a>... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLB</a> <a href="https://t.co/jhrVfGypzf">pic.twitter.com/jhrVfGypzf</a></p>— Kelly Crull (@Kelly_Crull) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kelly_Crull/status/1134615436975321090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2019</a>
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<p id="QtsFxg">Len Kasper mentioned on the broadcast that Cardinals fans were “having fun” with it. That, I think, is incorrect. Cardinals fans seemed dead serious about the booing. It’s time to let it go, St. Louis.</p>
<p id="5kJavq">The most encouraging thing about this loss was Darvish’s performance. He is, for some reason, pitching much better away from Wrigley Field:</p>
<blockquote><p id="npuK9z"><strong>Home:</strong> six starts, 6.32 ERA, 1.660 WHIP, 34 strikeouts and eight home runs in 31⅓ innings<br><strong>Road:</strong> six starts, 3.64 ERA, 1.449 WHIP, 39 strikeouts and three home runs in 29⅔ innings</p></blockquote>
<p id="6gtxk4">Obviously the Cubs can’t use Darvish only in road games, but it would seem there’s something about Wrigley Field that’s holding him back. He had a slightly better ERA (4.68) on the road compared to Wrigley (5.40) last year, too.</p>
<p id="NF4mTn">Also, if you’ll indulge me, and I admit this has no scientific basis, Darvish appears to pitch better when wearing the blue alternate jersey this year (jersey info from <a href="http://www.sportslogos.net/uniforms/list_by_team/201954/Chicago_Cubs_2019_Uniform_Tracker_Game-By-Game/">Chris Creamer’s Uniform Tracker</a>):</p>
<blockquote><p id="TngDxM"><strong>Darvish in road gray:</strong> four starts, 18⅓ innings, 4.42 ERA, 1.745 WHIP, 3 HR, 22 strikeouts<br><strong>Darvish in blue alt:</strong> two starts, 11⅓ innings, 2.38 ERA, 0.971 WHIP, 0 HR, 17 strikeouts</p></blockquote>
<p id="NcoWtD">I know it shouldn’t matter. But just for the heck of it... put Darvish in the blue alt on the road for the rest of the season. Couldn’t hurt, right?</p>
<p id="EjRhDN">The Cubs remain in first place in the N.L. Central by half a game because the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> lost to the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> Friday night. The Pirates and Cardinals trail by 3½ games and the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>, in last place, are five games behind.</p>
<p id="TvB0jg">The Cubs will look to even up the series Saturday evening with <span>Jose Quintana</span> on the mound. <span>Jack Flaherty</span> will start for the Cardinals. Game time is 6:15 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be on Fox-TV (regional — <a href="http://506sports.com/mlb.php">coverage map</a>). And this ought to be fun: The announcers for Fox’s coverage tonight will be Len Kasper... and A.J. Pierzynski.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/6/1/18648351/cubs-cardinals-recap-yu-darvish-dillon-maples-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2019-05-31T21:15:00-05:002019-05-31T21:15:00-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Friday 5/31, 7:15 CT
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<p id="m8JLoX">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/31/18645748/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-cardinals-friday-5-31-7-15-ctAl Yellon2019-05-31T20:15:00-05:002019-05-31T20:15:00-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Friday 5/31, 7:15 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="m8JLoX">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/31/18645750/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-cardinals-friday-5-31-7-15-ctAl Yellon2019-05-31T19:10:00-05:002019-05-31T19:10:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Friday 5/31, 7:15 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IAZNb_G1MMDDq9FVWfB-DqZmork=/610x415:4225x2825/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63931249/1151644122.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by David Banks/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="m8JLoX">Go get ‘em, Yu.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/31/18645741/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-cardinals-friday-5-31-7-15-ctAl Yellon2019-05-31T17:00:00-05:002019-05-31T17:00:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals preview, Friday 5/31, 7:15 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7cIUOddmggmgHoIpSrt7YaJyWaU=/49x62:4309x2902/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63930840/usa_today_12792845.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs meet their division rivals in St. Louis for the first time in 2019.</p> <p id="Vho4IE">Tonight’s game is one of six this year that is being produced by MLB Network for broadcast over Facebook. Further details below. It’s blacked out in the Cubs and Cardinals market territories, but it should be available everywhere else. </p>
<p id="KMMWwI">For the 2019 season, the partnership between Facebook Watch and MLB will produce social-first, interactive broadcasts for six out-of-market games, one every month of the regular season. If you live outside the Cubs or Cardinals market territories, you can access the game via MLB Live on Facebook Watch. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/help-center/subscription-access-facebook-watch-faq">Information on how to access the games on Facebook Watch is available here.</a> More TV details for tonight’s game are below.</p>
<p id="JbskMM">Notes:</p>
<ul>
<li id="wp4YeV">If the Cubs hit two home runs tonight, that will make nine straight multi-homer games for the team. That would tie the major-league record, which has been accomplished five times, most recently by the 2016 Cardinals... so it would seem appropriate to do it in their ballpark!</li>
<li id="CvAHZJ">More on home runs: The Cubs have hit 51 home runs this month, the most in any calendar month in franchise history, surpassing August 2004 and August 2017 (48 homers), with one day to go in May 2019.</li>
<li id="KUf8yQ">2019 is the 128th season of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry. In the previous 127, the Cubs have won the season series 56 times, lost the season series 56 and split the other 15 seasons. (H/T: Ed Hartig)</li>
<li id="XrUjbX">The Cubs are 16-11 in May with one game remaining, and a victory tonight would give the team at least 17 wins in May for just the 13th time ever and the third time in the last 20 seasons. The 2008 squad was 18-11 in May and the 2016 team was 18-10. (Those wound up as pretty good years, as you’ll recall.)</li>
<li id="zYPax0">
<span>Yadier Molina</span> will miss this series:</li>
</ul>
<div id="kerPme">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yadier Molina (right thumb tendon strain) has been placed on the 10-day IL retroactive to May 29.<br><br>Rookie catcher Andrew Knizner had his contracted purchased from Memphis (AAA) and has been added to our active roster. <a href="https://t.co/iT3LFrTswh">pic.twitter.com/iT3LFrTswh</a></p>— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1134552141123788802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="4BtMK7">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="3IvQgQ"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="U4OYcZ">
<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.<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/XqGCzmqx0E">pic.twitter.com/XqGCzmqx0E</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1134550309064364036?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="ao1n2Y">As usual, <span>Willson Contreras</span> is not catching Yu Darvish.</p>
<p id="xn7OZd"><a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="tbk4WV">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cardinals vs. Cubs. Let's go! <br><br>⚾️ <a href="https://t.co/fa6A0X77Af">https://t.co/fa6A0X77Af</a> <a href="https://t.co/jbCKJ7wo8d">pic.twitter.com/jbCKJ7wo8d</a></p>— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1134556489098649600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2 id="V5jSYv">
<span>Yu Darvish</span>, RHP vs. <span>Miles Mikolas</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/_g6TilptV3Tnevw63F9H-4XH6KU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16020625/usa_today_12381470.jpg">
<cite>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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</div>
<div class="c-float-right"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BUfFc31Qgm4a5skC7AHhFajJL7k=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16306560/usa_today_12382452.jpg">
<cite>Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="V6LI8J">Yu Darvish’s overall numbers from <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201905250.shtml">his last start</a> — seven innings (plus two hitters in the eighth), 12 hits, six runs — don’t look that great. But Darvish’s teammates praised him for gutting it out through that long, and he was dialing his velocity up to 97 in the seventh inning. I have this sense that Darvish is about to break out and have a good run of starts, and why not begin tonight?</p>
<p id="P5QQTs">Darvish’s season walk rate is still too high (6.2 per nine innings), but he’s striking out 11 per nine, which is fifth-best in the National League for qualified starters. The walk rate is much better over his last three starts, just five walks in 18⅓ innings (2.45 per nine innings).</p>
<p id="TfnZW7">His start vs. the Cardinals <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201905040.shtml">May 4 at Wrigley Field</a> wasn’t very good, but he’s improved considerably since then. I think the Cardinals will see a much different Darvish tonight. This is his first-ever start at Busch Stadium.</p>
<p id="U2TgQw">Miles Mikolas has not been nearly as good this year as he was in his first year in St. Louis, where he finished sixth in Cy Young voting. He’s had some good starts this year, to be sure, and has thrown seven innings in three of his last four starts. The other one of those four, the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> knocked him out of the game <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX201905170.shtml">before the third inning</a>.</p>
<p id="SCJWv3">Mikolas led the major leagues in best walk rate per nine innings in 2018 (1.3) and it’s nearly as good (1.4) this year. So the Cubs should look to put the ball in play. </p>
<p id="n81vHm">He made four starts against the Cubs last year and posted a 1.38 ERA and 1.038 WHIP. Cubs hitters are batting .231 (18-for-78) against him with one home run (<span>Javier Baez</span>), but Cubs hitters managed just three walks in 26 innings against Mikolas in 2018.</p>
<p id="FER5qC">Today’s game is on NBC Sports Chicago. As noted above, you can also watch tonight on Facebook (outside the Cubs and Cardinals market territories). The Facebook broadcast is being produced by MLB Network and the announcers will be Scott Braun, former Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster and Jon Morosi. </p>
<p id="cxuSIp"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2019/05/31">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_31_chnmlb_slnmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2019/SLN201905310.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.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> site <a href="http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Viva El Birdos</a>. If you do go there to interact with Cardinals 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="w9N5Vw"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/31/18644283/chicago-cubs-st-louis-cardinals-preview-fridayAl Yellon