Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Mets Thursday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2019-08-30T10:00:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/205977362019-08-30T10:00:00-05:002019-08-30T10:00:00-05:002019 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 133
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9q6fx0GnBhScNO72pi9k0qigBqY=/601x220:1856x1057/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65143128/usa_today_13277565.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs complete an improbable sweep in New York</p> <p id="5ovuuw">Now how about that? I love that I’m confused about this <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> baseball team and it is in a good way. I’ve spent way more words in the second half of the season talking about the problems of this Cubs team than talking about the positives. What a pleasant surprise this series was! The Cubs swept three games in New York, with three talented Mets starters all being charged with losses. </p>
<p id="kIsRYS">The Cubs saw their road record dip all of the way to 23-39 (.371) before winning five straight road games, improving the road record to 28-39 (.418). It’s hard to move a winning percentage that far this late in the season. </p>
<p id="FWwNs1">On Tuesday night, when the Cubs needed heroes, the got heroic efforts from <span>Yu Darvish</span>, <span>Javier Baez</span> and Addison Russell. On Wednesday night, the offense more or less all teamed up to ambush the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> for 10 runs in three innings and then the bullpen shut things down late to preserve the win. On Thursday night, there were two more heroes. </p>
<p id="Y29BTr"><span>Jon Lester</span> outdueled <span>Jacob deGrom</span>. Sure, deGrom is going to be a star in this league for a long time. But on this night, Lester scrapped through six innings of one-run ball to keep the Cubs momentum going. Games like this are definitely a reminder of why it is hard to conclusively say that you would absolutely, positively not let Jon start a playoff game should the Cubs get into a full series. </p>
<p id="32Mfl2"><span>Victor Caratini</span> got a start at first base in place of the injured <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>. Rizzo boasted some very good career numbers against deGrom. But he had never had a two-homer game against the Mets’ ace — and that’s exactly what Vic did. Not only did he hit two homers, but he drove in all four runs. </p>
<p id="ugVSGd">The Cubs have had some fortunate luck in deGrom starts by way of winning the game after he left. Not this time. They won the game while he was on the mound, indeed scored all four runs off him. </p>
<p id="6xCBHa">This was a special, special series. It won’t mean quite as much if they don’t come home and take care of business on the upcoming homestand. As frustrating as the sweep at the hands of the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> was, the Cubs have now won 8 of 11. The <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> are hot, but so are the Cubs. And reinforcements are coming. The Cubs should add more talent in the next week than pretty much any other team in the National League does. <span>Willson Contreras</span> could return next week and hopefully Rizzo will beat him back. </p>
<p id="3HqD3W">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="yC7vZP"><strong>Game 133, August 29: </strong>Cubs 4, Mets 1 (72-61)</p>
<div id="NT1hzj">
<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2019-08-29&team=Mets&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=2019-08-29&team=Mets&dh=0&season=2019">FanGraphs</a></span>
</div>
<p id="dmOJ6y"><strong>THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="Ke5YvW">
<strong>Superhero: </strong>Victor Caratini (.437). Vic had three hits, two of which were homers, two runs scored, and four RBI in just four at bats. In 201 PA, Vic has a line of .274/.363/.480 (wRC+ 119). He has a BB% of 11.9 and a K% of 22.4. I feel fairly confident in saying that in 2019, the Cubs had the best backup catcher in baseball. </li>
<li id="xyyr9C">
<strong>Hero: </strong>Jon Lester (.213). Six innings, five hits, three walks, just one run. He struck out four. </li>
<li id="Ly2DHO">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong><span>Tyler Chatwood</span> (.045). Tyler looked really, really sharp Thursday night. He struck out two of the three batters he faced in a perfect inning. Three Cubs relievers combined to throw three innings with only one base-runner on an error. </li>
</ul>
<p id="2wqUaO"><strong>THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="s6zrSS">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong><span>Nicholas Castellanos</span> (-.079). Nick has to be happy to get back to Chicago where he has flat out crushed. He was hitless in four at bats and struck out twice. </li>
<li id="UgpdpO">
<strong>Goat: </strong><span>Jonathan Lucroy</span> (-068). He only had three at bats, but they were also hitless. He struck out once.</li>
<li id="HVatp9">
<strong>Kid: </strong><span>Jason Heyward</span> (-.051). Jason was hitless in four at bats and struck out once.</li>
</ul>
<p id="MBSD6n"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong><span>Kris Bryant</span> and Javier Baez had back-to-back one out singles in the seventh inning. That set the stage for Caratini in a tie game. He hit a three-run homer. (.344)</p>
<p id="Vwlrhu">*Mets Play of the Game: <span>J.D. Davis</span> homered with two outs in the first inning to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. (.116)</p>
<p id="zcWD84"><strong>Cumulative Standings Top/Bottom 3: </strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="2aXG1H">Anthony Rizzo 34</li>
<li id="b0KU0z">Kris Bryant 29.75</li>
<li id="WmyFG5">
<span>Kyle Hendricks</span> 13</li>
<li id="LJ9CQO">!<span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> -12</li>
<li id="34ytSE">
<span>Jason Heyward</span> -15</li>
<li id="tLVPtp">
<span>Pedro Strop</span> -20.5</li>
</ul>
<p id="ftyMGX"><strong>Up Next: </strong>The Cubs come home looking for a ninth win in 12 tries. They face a 68-65 Milwaukee Brewer team. The <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> have dropped six of 10 and are only 15-15 over their last 30 games. They are just 29-36 on the road. Over their last 10 games, the Brewers lost three, then won three, then loss three, then won the last one they played. The Cubs lead the season series 7-5 and have won the season series each of the last two years. </p>
<p id="clT6TO">In the first game, the Cubs will send <span>Jose Quintana</span> to the mound. Jose is 11-8 with a 4.05 ERA in 146⅔ innings on the season, but he is 4-1 with a 3.63 ERA in 39⅔ innings over his last seven. Jose entered Thursday night’s game as the No. 26 overall pitcher in terms of fWAR. That is despite a real clunker the last time out. In that one, he allowed seven hits, three walks and five runs (four earned) in just four innings. That was Jose’s first loss in more than two months. Q has been notoriously good against the Brewers, though not as much in 2019. In four starts against the Brewers this year, he’s allowed 16 runs in only 20⅓ innings. He has a 1-2 record in those starts. The one win was the last time he faced them on August 2 and was at Wrigley. Current Brewers have 354 PA against Jose with a .675 OPS. <span>Lorenzo Cain</span> has the most PA (98, .697). <span>Ryan Braun</span> is one Brewer who’s really had Jose’s number. Braun has five homers in 43 PA (.985). </p>
<p id="sVLwxD"><span>Chase Anderson</span> starts for the Brewers. Chase is 6-3 with a 4.34 ERA in 112 innings. He is just 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA over his last seven starts (34⅔ innings). Last time out he threw five scoreless innings against the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>. He allowed three hits, two walks and struck out five. He’s only faced the Cubs once this year, that was on July 27 in Milwaukee. In that one he threw five innings, allowed four hits, one walk and two runs. He struck out four. </p>
<p id="SO0GAg">The 31-year-old right-hander has been hit hard by right-handed hitters in 2019 (.914), but has held down lefties (.569). He’s been much worse on the road (.906) than at home (.642). Current Cubs have 209 PA against him with a .621 OPS. Kris Bryant has the best results with three homers in just 28 PA (.975). <span>Willson Contreras</span> will be sad to miss this one (1.579 OPS in 19 PA). Javier Baez has struggled against him though with just one hit and one walk in 18 PA (.170). </p>
<p id="fgJAuF">This team is not that team, but the 2018 Brewers were five games out of first on the morning of August 30. They’ll be 5½ back at the same time this year. That team closed out 20-7, then won a one-game playoff to win the division. They won their last eight and two of their last 11 including the one-game playoff to get into the playoffs. </p>
<div id="T4LwP3"><div data-anthem-component="poll:8820111"></div></div>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/8/30/20840202/2019-cubs-heroes-and-goats-game-133Thomas Smith2019-08-30T08:00:00-05:002019-08-30T08:00:00-05:00Cubs 4, Mets 1: The Victor Caratini game
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QTEQ98El352oxXlhINIc9UGbqMk=/123x144:3507x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65142025/1164737416.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs catcher had himself a big night, and the Cubs swept the Mets.</p> <p id="GTE2Nv">Well now, <em>that</em> was unexpected.</p>
<p id="1DfSBi">The <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> came into Thursday night’s game having to face the reigning N.L. Cy Young Award winner, <span>Jacob deGrom</span>, who was having a terrific second half (1.04 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break). It was going very difficult to complete a three-game sweep.</p>
<p id="owAFbA">And then <span>Victor Caratini</span> stepped up and took over this game, smashing two home runs (his second two-homer game of the season) and the Cubs did indeed finish the sweep with <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2019_08_29_chnmlb_nynmlb_1">a convincing 4-1 win over the Mets</a>.</p>
<p id="Vp0Rvb">The Cubs went down 1-2-3 in the first. <span>Jon Lester</span> put the Cubs behind 1-0 when <span>J.D. Davis</span> homered off him with two out in the bottom of the inning.</p>
<p id="xhvScH"><a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-08/29/ad419b60-ce41fa6a-bec0cd74-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Caratini made that Mets lead last about five minutes [VIDEO].</a></p>
<div id="dPnoUJ"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video controls="" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;">Your browser does not support HTML5 video.<source src="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-08/29/ad419b60-ce41fa6a-bec0cd74-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="KEPArl"></p>
<p id="zBsUMJ">That was Victor’s eighth homer of the season.</p>
<p id="d0LC5F">Lester was in constant trouble, but kept working his way out of it. He allowed a two-out single and walk in the second, but got <span>Jeff McNeil</span> to line to left. A double by <span>Wilson Ramos</span> and a walk with two out in the third got Jon in trouble again, but he got <span>Todd Frazier</span> on a lazy fly to center. He threw a 1-2-3 fourth and fifth, which was good because he had run up a pretty high pitch count in the first three innings. That allowed Jon to complete the sixth inning, in which he allowed a one-out single, but <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-08/29/4b19dc38-62d82a61-75188aad-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Jon’s 97th pitch of the night ended that frame [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="ud9a3g"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video controls="" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;">Your browser does not support HTML5 video.<source src="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-08/29/4b19dc38-62d82a61-75188aad-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="wpiOYY"></p>
<p id="SzOkZM">A strikeout and a strong throw by <span>Jonathan Lucroy</span> to catch <span>Michael Conforto</span> stealing wrapped up Lester’s night: six innings, one run, four strikeouts, a solid if unspectacular start.</p>
<p id="Ts36q9">Meanwhile, 15 straight Cubs were retired by deGrom after Caratini’s home run, which stood as the Cubs’ only hit with one out in the seventh. <span>Kris Bryant</span> hit a ball that shortstop <span>Amed Rosario</span> couldn’t handle that went for a single, and <span>Javier Baez</span> followed with another single.</p>
<p id="PIJ5vr"><a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-08/29/c15705ce-28fbfb92-6cb9db80-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Guess who was up next? [VIDEO]</a></p>
<div id="S8hJ0h"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video controls="" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;">Your browser does not support HTML5 video.<source src="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-08/29/c15705ce-28fbfb92-6cb9db80-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="Ykq2Nf"></p>
<p id="KK6zt9">Look at the shots into the Cubs dugout after Victor’s ball landed in the second deck. You’ve been looking for “fire”? <em>That, my friends, is fire.</em> The Cubs are clearly pumped up about the homer and the chance to sweep the series. Also, check out the launch angle and height on that one:</p>
<div id="l5QBir">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> 4 @ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mets?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mets</a> 1 [T7-1o]:<br><br>Victor Caratini homers (9): fly ball to RF (3-run)<br><br>Hit: 393.08ft, 104.82mph, 24.77° <br> [2nd of game]<br><br>Pitch: 90.2mph Slider (RHP Jacob deGrom, 17) <a href="https://t.co/Upy2QV5qRs">pic.twitter.com/Upy2QV5qRs</a></p>— Home Run Tracker (@DingerTracker) <a href="https://twitter.com/DingerTracker/status/1167239516723261441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="zVemwE">And, that was an impressive achievement against a very good pitcher:</p>
<div id="ieryzQ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Victor Caratini gives the Cubs the lead with his second homer of the game, both off Jacob deGrom.<br><br>He is the first <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cubs</a> player to have a multi-homer game off the reigning Cy Young winner since Ernie Banks had two against Mike McCormick on May 26, 1968.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EverybodyIn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EverybodyIn</a></p>— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) <a href="https://twitter.com/StatsBySTATS/status/1167242938293936128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="JYXSMc">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Players to homer twice in a game off Jacob deGrom in his career:<br><br>Victor Caratini, tonight<br>Mitch Garver, April 9<br>Giancarlo Stanton, 7/6/16<br>Mark Teixeira, 4/24/15</p>— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewSimonMLB/status/1167239731832336387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="rej4L0">Then it was up to the bullpen to preserve the lead. <span>Tyler Chatwood</span> entered to throw the seventh. Now be honest: You get a little nervous every time you see him take the mound. Sometimes he’s been really good this year. Other times, not so much. This time... really good. He struck out <span>Juan Lagares</span>, got <span>Joe Panik</span> to fly to center, and struck out Rosario for a 1-2-3 inning with only 12 pitches thrown (nine strikes). This was a high-leverage setup situation and it would be great if Joe Maddon could trust Chatwood in similar situations the rest of the year.</p>
<p id="J1sYAo">It was <span>Brandon Kintzler</span>’s turn in the eighth, and <span>Pete Alonso</span> reached on a two-out throwing error. Now, nothing against Caratini at first base, but <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> probably catches that throw. We take for granted how many infield errors Rizzo saves at first base. He might not be able to play Friday; hopefully he’ll be back in the lineup Saturday. Kintzler got out of the inning with a force play, <span>Javier Baez</span> flipping to <span>Addison Russell</span> at second and you could almost hear Javy think, “I’m taking the short route here.”</p>
<p id="aBZPZG">The Cubs got two runners on in the ninth, but Russell hit into a double play to end the inning, so it was up to <span>Craig Kimbrel</span> for the second straight night. He ran full counts on all three hitters, running up a pitch count of 20, but retired them all. <a href="https://bdata-producedclips.mlb.com/05e36547-758d-435e-a845-4e7ab9c564f2.mp4">Here’s the final out [VIDEO].</a></p>
<div id="yAUujv"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video controls="" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;">Your browser does not support HTML5 video.<source src="https://bdata-producedclips.mlb.com/05e36547-758d-435e-a845-4e7ab9c564f2.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="dVlnGr"></p>
<p id="AFbH7z">So the Cubs had their sweep, a satisfying one, and have now defeated the Mets seven straight times in Citi Field. They also once again matched their season high of 11 games over .500 at 72-61 (the fifth time they’ve been at that season high) and gained half a game on the first-place <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>, who had the night off. They trail St. Louis by 1½ games and are four games up on the third-place <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>, who come to Wrigley Field for a three-game series beginning Friday afternoon.</p>
<p id="x2S6cG">And after a dreadful run on the road, the Cubs have now won five straight games away from Wrigley Field and have a road run differential of +4. Overall they’ve won eight of their last 11.</p>
<p id="zC2cDO">Thus the complaint department is definitely closed and locked up tight this morning.</p>
<p id="ftpQjx">The Cubs have a tough turnaround from this night game to Friday’s day game, but were at least helped out by the quick game time (2:35, the seventh-fastest Cubs game of 2019). <span>Jose Quintana</span> (who, hopefully, headed back to Chicago early) will start for the Cubs Friday against the Brewers against <span>Chase Anderson</span>. Game time is 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via WGN (and nationally on MLB Network outside the Cubs and Brewers market territories).</p>
<p id="QpPU5X"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/8/30/20840024/cubs-mets-recap-victor-caratini-jon-lester-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2019-08-29T20:10:00-05:002019-08-29T20:10:00-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Mets, Thursday 8/29, 6:10 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IvYPQ3SjE3RijiUqVGKpgFO7JaM=/0x0:3442x2295/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65139825/usa_today_13273081.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="oqXdLs">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/8/29/20833691/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-mets-thursday-8-29-6-10-ctAl Yellon2019-08-29T19:10:00-05:002019-08-29T19:10:00-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Mets, Thursday 8/29, 6:10 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rZu4dRfRvI1wUpYS7Zub4-Jmyws=/0x812:2324x2361/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65139648/usa_today_13273078.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="oqXdLs">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/8/29/20833690/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-mets-thursday-8-29-6-10-ctAl Yellon2019-08-29T18:05:00-05:002019-08-29T18:05:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Mets, Thursday 8/29, 6:10 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eftNlBi8W7jI16HhA6unZCfQrQ0=/474x509:4226x3010/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65139426/1168357493.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="oqXdLs">Go get ‘em, Jon.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/8/29/20833687/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-mets-thursday-8-29-6-10-ctAl Yellon2019-08-29T16:00:00-05:002019-08-29T16:00:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets preview, Thursday 8/29, 6:10 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oxYkMXyAKBcP7zPebGN8g-l-aeQ=/468x142:4470x2810/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65138697/1170798788.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs go for the three-game sweep.</p> <p id="xv4RN7">News:</p>
<div id="lC5r5K">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cubs catcher Willson Contreras will begin a rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Iowa.</p>— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) <a href="https://twitter.com/PJ_Mooney/status/1167168002510532608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="Pd4OfA">The <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> have won six consecutive games in Citi Field (and see below) dating back to last year and are 10-3 overall against the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> since the beginning of 2018.</p>
<p id="w3Feic">Let’s keep that going tonight.</p>
<ul>
<li id="sDYyrQ">THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE... ROAD? The Cubs’ sixth straight win at Citi Field is their longest winning streak ever in that ballpark. The Cubs are going tonight for their longest winning streak in New York since a seven-game winning streak at Shea Stadium from May 22-September 18, 1991. </li>
<li id="t9davD">CUB POWER: <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> last night hit his 31st home run of the season to surpass his previous 2017 career high of 30. Schwarber is now one of only five N.L. left-handed hitters with multiple 30 homer campaigns in the last three seasons, joining <span>Cody Bellinger</span> (two times), <span>Christian Yelich</span> (two times), <span>Max Muncy</span> (two times) and <span>Travis Shaw</span> (two times). </li>
<li id="UMGdeH">DOUBLING HIS PLEASURE: <span>Javier Baez</span> enters today’s game with 37 doubles this season, one shy of the N.L. lead (L.A.’s <span>Corey Seager</span>, 38) … Baez aims to become the first Cub to lead the N.L. in doubles since <span>Derrek Lee</span> did so with 50 in 2005. </li>
<li id="GwoswI">IT’S NOT JUST US: The Cubs’ 27-39 road record this season ranks 11th in the National League and 21st in the majors. All five N.L. Central teams have a losing record on the road and everyone but Pittsburgh has a winning record at home. </li>
</ul>
<p id="R2ZzEa">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="HAZTFQ"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="gTvr5p">
<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>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/rBxm40nBiC">https://t.co/rBxm40nBiC</a> <a href="https://t.co/RNxXDwZZ0K">pic.twitter.com/RNxXDwZZ0K</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1167153617054392321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="6ZfO7W"><a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="X2iC8T">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">We close out the homestand with de on the bump tonight. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LGM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LGM</a><br><br>⌚️ 7:10 p.m.<br> ️ <a href="https://t.co/J2Zj1MyzkP">https://t.co/J2Zj1MyzkP</a> <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/JdeGrom19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JdeGrom19</a> <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/SNYtv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SNYtv</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLBNetwork</a> (out-of-market only)<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/wcbs880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wcbs880</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNDep1050AM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNDep1050AM</a> <br> <a href="https://t.co/LVQQS6n3kp">https://t.co/LVQQS6n3kp</a> <a href="https://t.co/V8erQbRAlE">pic.twitter.com/V8erQbRAlE</a></p>— New York Mets (@Mets) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mets/status/1167152273857896448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<h2 id="V5jSYv">
<span>Jon Lester</span>, LHP vs. <span>Jacob deGrom</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/rpNupIcFBF73TEeOW1qbYoeamU4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/18288691/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/9NT3XIFkPQqrNzDR3YmmVvrzxB4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16386198/usa_today_12381618.jpg">
<cite>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="VjZhm8">Jon Lester has struggled lately. Let’s hope the off day Monday, which gave him an extra day of rest, will help him throw a better game tonight.</p>
<p id="uqjnPF">Jon last faced the Mets <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201808270.shtml">August 27, 2018</a>. He allowed three runs in six innings that night at Wrigley Field. The last time he pitched in Citi Field, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN201806030.shtml">June 3, 2018</a>, he threw seven shutout innings and allowed just two hits.</p>
<p id="Pedvhq">Jon has about equal numbers home and away this year, same for day games vs. night games. On the road since the All-Star break: four starts, 23 innings, 3.13 ERA, 21 strikeouts.</p>
<p id="A7LxE5"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/8/29/20834527/jon-lester-cubs-pitching-troubles">There’s more on Jon in Sara Sanchez’ article from earlier today.</a></p>
<p id="3nfINP">Jacob deGrom was the best pitcher in the National League last year, winning the Cy Young Award. He has only been really, really good this year, not quite up to his 2018 standards.</p>
<p id="BnA4vV">That said, “really, really good” is going to be hard to beat, especially since deGrom has posted a 1.04 ERA and 0.923 WHIP in eight starts since the All-Star break. He’s allowed two or fewer runs in all eight of those starts and in his last outing, against a good-hitting <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> team, he struck out 13.</p>
<p id="EcA5tG">He allowed two runs in six innings against the Cubs <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201906230.shtml">June 23 at Wrigley Field</a>. On the other hand, current Cubs are hitting .308 (36-for-117) against him with four home runs, two by Kris Bryant. So maybe he’s hittable after all. Teams have done a bit better against him in night games (2.91 ERA in 21 starts) than day games (0.93 ERA in five starts). That’s about all I’ve got, though.</p>
<p id="U7midw">Today’s game is on ABC7 Chicago. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Mets market territories).</p>
<p id="cxuSIp"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2019/08/29">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_08_29_chnmlb_nynmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2019/NYN201908290.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.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> site <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/">Amazin’ Avenue</a>. If you do go there to interact with Mets fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.</p>
<p id="4R9cxt">The 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="twxuYR"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/8/29/20833081/chicago-cubs-new-york-mets-preview-thursdayAl Yellon