Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Mariners Tuesday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2019-09-04T09:30:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/206067892019-09-04T09:30:00-05:002019-09-04T09:30:00-05:002019 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 138
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<img alt="MLB: Seattle Mariners at Chicago Cubs" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pmKwtoQ1QFn0C7CM8yoDfrGeI3c=/458x126:3450x2121/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65169872/usa_today_13303346.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Cubs sweep Mariners with 6-1 victory</p> <p id="YA3DAZ">There are three teams this year that the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> are more than three games above .500 against. They are the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> (6-1), the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> (4-0) and the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> (5-2). The Cubs are 12 games above .500 against those three teams and 12 games over for the season. Hopefully, the Cubs can take three out of four from Milwaukee to finish the season set against the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> at 11-8 to make it four. </p>
<p id="QkZUGD">The Cubs sit at their high-water mark of the season. Unfortunately, the two teams they are chasing, one for the National League Central title and one for the first wild card spot, the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> and <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> are also sitting at their high water mark for the season. This is what baseball has become the last few years. At some point in the summer, a team recognizes if it is built to challenge for the playoffs or not. If they are not, they really pull up and start looking to the future. This leads to a lot of contenders piling up a lot of wins at the end of the season and a lot of non contenders piling up a lot of losses. And so it is that the Cubs have won 11 of their last 16, but it feels empty to some. </p>
<p id="fTCidj">The next four games will be against the Brewers. The Brewers will be fighting for the last gasp of their playoff hopes. They’ve fallen four games behind the Cubs for the last playoff spot. These are the last four games between the two teams and so they’ll surely come into this series feeling they need to sweep and that anything less than three wins is probably going to leave them looking to next year. After that, the Cubs will have 10 straight games against teams who aren’t heading to the playoffs and are basically playing out the string. Which isn’t to say that the Padres won’t put up any fight in a four-game set in their park. But, it’s unlikely to have the same intensity these next four games are likely to have. </p>
<p id="cPQAro">The Cubs got <span>Ben Zobrist</span> and <span>Willson Contreras</span> back on the field last night. Both contributed. They rested <span>Javier Baez</span> and <span>Kris Bryant</span> ahead of an off day today to give both a chance to heal up from some bumps and bruises. For the first time since May, the Cubs should have their full compliment of players. The core of the team is back together. Zobrist’s role will surely be less than it once was, but he’s still a key member of the team and particularly the clubhouse. It’s good to see him back. </p>
<p id="HdxSWO">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="0UJykV"><strong>Game 138, September 3: </strong>Cubs 6, Mariners 1 (75-63)</p>
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<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=wins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2019-09-03&team=Cubs&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2019-09-03&team=Cubs&dh=0&season=2019">FanGraphs</a></span>
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<p id="cq1HEm"><strong>THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
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<li id="frLI6y">
<strong>Superhero: </strong><span>Jon Lester</span> (.286). If this is the last time Jon Lester faces the Mariners, then he’ll have finished his career with four straight scoreless outings against them. He threw six scoreless frames, allowing six hits and four walks. He struck out nine. </li>
<li id="cmDmJg">
<strong>Hero: </strong><span>Kyle Schwarber</span> (.155). Kyle had a single, a double, a homer and a walk in four at bats. He scored twice and drove in one. His season line is now .236/.329/.515 (wRC+ 112). The slugging percentage would be the highest of his career. </li>
<li id="f5jvFI">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong>Willson Contreras (.123). Willson had two hits and a walk in four plate appearances. He got the scoring started with a second inning solo homer.</li>
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<p id="UsdCKl"><strong>THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
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<li id="HidgPf">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong><span>Anthony Rizzo</span> (-.059). One walk in four plate appearances. </li>
<li id="jlwR3b">
<strong>Goat: </strong><span>Jason Heyward</span> (-.050). Jason was hitless in four at bats with two strikeouts. The very deep slump Jason is in has dropped his line to .249/.336/.422 (wRC+ 95). That Cubs leadoff spot has been one destructive force this year.</li>
<li id="que966">
<strong>Kid: </strong><span>Addison Russell</span> (-.043). Russell was also hitless in four at bats and struck out once. </li>
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<p id="n5yblO"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong>Willson Contreras’ solo homer in the second inning gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead. (.110)</p>
<p id="xghp4A">*Mariners Play of the Game: After a leadoff single in the fourth inning by <span>Kyle Seager</span>, <span>Tom Murphy</span> stepped to the plate. Murphy drew a walk and the Mariners had two on and no outs with the score only 2-0 Cubs. (.071)</p>
<p id="MGBtma"><strong>Cumulative Standings:</strong></p>
<p id="8AeNJu">Look for a full cumulative standings piece before the next Cubs game. As usual we will look at the complete standings for Heroes and Goats and also the year to date team hitting, pitching and fielding statistics.</p>
<p id="kE8BnJ"><strong>Up Next: </strong>The Cubs get a day off ahead of a road trip featuring eight games in eight days. The first stop on that trip will be Milwaukee. The Brewers also just got done with a two-game interleague set, so both teams have that mutual off day ahead of the series. The Brewers have won five and lost five over their last 10. Going deeper, they are 15-15 over their last 30. They have been stuck in the mud for quite some time. They have won three of five though, including two of three against the Cubs and a split with the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a>. </p>
<p id="1QGggn"><span>Jose Quintana</span> gets the first start in the series. Jose is 12-8 with a 3.90 ERA in 152⅓ innings. Those numbers have Jose up to 3.3 fWAR, good for 26th among all pitchers and tops on the Cubs. Over his last seven starts, Q is 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 40⅓ innings. Last time out, he beat the Brewers, holding them scoreless in 5⅔ innings. He allowed four hits and two walks while striking out three. He’s won his last two starts against the Brewers, but both of those were at Wrigley. He has five starts this year against the Brewers and is 2-2 with a 5.54 ERA in 26 innings. Those numbers are bloated thanks to the eight runs in three innings the Brewers hung on him in his first start of the season way back on April 5. Current Brewers have 384 PA against Jose with a .662 OPS. <span>Lorenzo Cain</span> has 101 career PA against him with a .676. The guy who usually does the most damage is Ryan Braun. Ryan has 46 PA, five homers and two doubles, good for a 1.001 OPS.</p>
<p id="7D2sul"><span>Chase Anderson</span> stars for the Brewers in a rematch from last week at Wrigley. Chase is 6-4 with a 4.58 ERA in 116 innings. Over his last seven starts, he is 1-2 with a 6.27 ERA in 33 innings. He allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk in just four innings in his start against the Cubs last week. He’s faced the Cubs twice this year and is 0-1 with seven runs allowed in nine innings. The 31-year-old right-hander has gotten crushed by righthanded hitters this year (.945), but has been excellent against lefties (.597). He’s been much better at home (.642) than on the road (.964). Current Cubs have 250 PA against Anderson with a .757 OPS. Hopefully <span>Kris Bryant</span> is healthy and ready to go. He has 28 PA with a .975 OPS (three homers and a double) against him. <span>Ben Zobrist</span> also has great numbers (23, 1.298, three homers). Willson Contreras has crushed him with four doubles and a homer in just 19 PA (1.579). <span>Ian Happ</span> has two doubles in six PA (1.300) and <span>Nicholas Castellanos</span> has a perfect 5.000 in two PA against him. </p>
<p id="ey6n7P">Chase won’t be a pushover at home, but I like the odds of the Cubs keeping their road winning streak (five games) alive for at least one more game. </p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/9/4/20848941/2019-cubs-heroes-and-goats-game-138Thomas Smith2019-09-04T08:00:00-05:002019-09-04T08:00:00-05:00Cubs 6, Mariners 1: Sweeping Seattle
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<figcaption>Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs took care of business with another power display.</p> <p id="eOuPVF">Can the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> just play the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> every day for the rest of the year? I’m sure they wouldn’t mind sticking around Chicago, a great city to visit, and rescheduling all the games shouldn’t be too difficult...</p>
<p id="zFvQtU">Of course, this can’t happen, but you’ll forgive me for wanting that. The Cubs smashed three home runs Tuesday evening in <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2019_09_03_seamlb_chnmlb_1">a 6-1 dismantling of the Mariners</a>. They swept the two-game series and took all four games they played vs. Seattle this year, outscoring them 28-7.</p>
<p id="36MyKq"><span>Jon Lester</span> had a rough first inning, loading the bases on a single and a pair of walks with one out, but wiggled out of it with a fly to center and a called strikeout that probably wasn’t (pitch 6):</p>
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<p id="WisgXT">The Cubs will take these when they can get them, of course. (Still, bring on the robot umpires.) Lester’s 29-pitch first inning wasn’t pretty.</p>
<p id="obO8Y3">After the first inning finished sleepless, er, scoreless, Lester retired the Mariners 1-2-3 in a nine-pitch second, and then the Cubs offense got to work. <span>Willson Contreras</span>, who injured his hamstring a month ago running the bases, decided <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-09/03/e782a70e-b8ad1b91-ede476cb-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">he’d rather have a leisurely trot around them [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="e5JryO">That laser beam of a hit: <em><strong>Crushed!</strong></em></p>
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<p lang="es" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mariners?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mariners</a> 0 @ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> 1 [B2-0o]:<br><br>Willson Contreras homers (20): fly ball to LCF (solo)<br><br>Hit: 450.14ft , 110.14mph , 21.52° <br><br>Pitch: 79.2mph Curveball (RHP Félix Hernández, 13) <a href="https://t.co/taS34wbJb0">pic.twitter.com/taS34wbJb0</a></p>— Home Run Tracker (@DingerTracker) <a href="https://twitter.com/DingerTracker/status/1169048323073986561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2019</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Willson Contreras, on his home run tonight: "That gave me chills. It was a special moment for me, because I know that I got hurt a month ago and I battled my way back. To be able to step into the box and hit a homer in my first at-bat coming back, it was awesome."</p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1169123836429778945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2019</a>
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<p id="jaagE9">Also, Sara Sanchez was in the bleachers with us Tuesday evening. You can only imagine how excited she was about this home run.</p>
<p id="rU66x5">Lester hit <span>Mallex Smith</span> to lead off the third, and then got out of that with <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-09/03/09c21e2b-3c4ea892-397209c5-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">an unusual double play [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="HcjiQO"></p>
<p id="26MEd9">Watch Lester raise up his arms calling for the ball to complete the unusual 9-1 double play.</p>
<p id="kGJG3N">The Cubs made it 2-0 in the bottom of the third. <span>Ben Zobrist</span>, who had been greeted by a warm ovation when he made his first plate appearance in the first, led off the third with a walk. <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> doubled Ben to third and <span>Nicholas Castellanos</span> scored him <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-09/03/b7c4754e-99d99bfe-f3025a4d-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">with this sacrifice fly [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="BBD4zG">The Cubs’ first two runs were off <span>Felix Hernandez</span>, whose career future is in doubt due to injuries. Only 33 — two years younger than Lester — let’s remember that <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hernafe02.shtml#2009-2015-sum:pitching_standard">from 2009-15</a> he was possibly the best pitcher in baseball, “King Felix,” winning a Cy Young Award, finishing in the top four in voting three other times, and throwing a perfect game in 2012. He’s likely made his last-ever appearance at Wrigley Field.</p>
<p id="odkXnA">Lester got into a bit of trouble again in the fourth. The bases were full of Mariners with two out on a single, walk and single, but Lester struck out pinch-hitter <span>Tim Lopes</span> (no relation to Davey) to end that inning.</p>
<p id="mDD0ao">The Cubs blew the game open in the fifth. Zobrist led off the inning with a bunt single.</p>
<p id="9xJLi5"><a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2016/10/20/1207970383/1476936733870/asset_1800K.mp4">Remember this play in Game 4 of the 2016 NLCS? [VIDEO]</a></p>
<div id="2iwfVn"><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://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2016/10/20/1207970383/1476936733870/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
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<p id="qX0ZSK">The stakes were obviously much higher then, but Zobrist was trying to energize an offense that had been shut out twice in a row by the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>. It worked then — the Cubs won the game 10-2, and eventually the series. And it seemed to work again Wednesday evening. Schwarber singled and then <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-09/03/2f8062e8-20a4e20f-f2cce8ec-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Castellanos put a baseball in the bleachers [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="9eLvXi">It’s 5-0 now, and I have fun facts for you!</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nicholas Castellanos this season<br><br>12 HR in 31 games with Cubs<br>11 HR in 100 games with Tigers<br><br>6 HR in 17 games at Wrigley Field<br>3 HR in 49 games at Comerica Park</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1169069073663217666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2019</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Castellanos Effect<br><br>The Cubs had a .252/.325/.460 slash line in the month of August. That line drops to .239/.317/.425 when you remove Castellanos' production.</p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1169121627042398208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2019</a>
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<p id="mxHbW8">Lester gave up a couple more hits in the sixth, and finished his evening with six scoreless innings, six hits allowed, three walks and nine strikeouts. That was his best outing at Wrigley Field since before the All-Star break. Could it be that being reunited with Contreras, who he likes to throw to, made the difference?</p>
<p id="34LilV"><span>Steve Cishek</span> threw a scoreless seventh and then the Cubs tacked on one more run, <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-09/03/a84b7301-6a9de1cc-81d67a06-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">thanks to Schwarber [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="OxFmUb">Fun fact time!</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">33 home runs by Kyle Schwarber is most by a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> lefty since Billy Williams had 37 in 1972</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1169095744252522499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2019</a>
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<p id="2DpA9w">In fact, Billy Williams is now the only Cubs lefthanded hitter to have more home runs in a season than Schwarber. He also hit 42 in 1970. Kyle’s got a shot at surpassing the 37 from 1972. More Kyle:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dating back to Aug. 1, Kyle Schwarber has slashed .287/.392/.678 for the Cubs. Tonight, he walked, singled, doubled and belted his 33rd homer of the season.</p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1169121384657801219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2019</a>
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<p id="Ul29oA">The Mariners got on the board in the eighth on three singles with two out. The third single — by BCB favorite <span>Daniel Vogelbach</span> — resulted in a tag play at second base that ended the inning, though not until after a challenge from the Mariners. <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-09/03/a18c2d7b-b8237e0e-c56a1875-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Then the Cubs challenged whether the run had scored before the tag [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="Q3xcj7">This screenshot looks a bit ambiguous:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tag is already on, runner clearly not on home yet. <a href="https://t.co/DOGdqaMD0m">pic.twitter.com/DOGdqaMD0m</a></p>— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherNation/status/1169084995081822209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2019</a>
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<p id="Sv64jv">So, the “out” call at second was confirmed, but the run was allowed to stand. </p>
<p id="qJRkZi"><span>Kyle Ryan</span> and <span>Rowan Wick</span> finished up the ninth inning without incident and the Cubs had a victory moving them again to a season-high 12 games over .500.</p>
<p id="J7vjj3">Unfortunately, all the teams that the Cubs are chasing or being chased by (<a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>, <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>, <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>, <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>) also won Tuesday evening, so the standings remain the same: the Cubs are three games behind St. Louis for the division lead, four games ahead of Milwaukee, 3½ games behind Washington (who won a ridiculous game after being behind by six runs entering the ninth inning) and 2½ ahead of Philadelphia.</p>
<p id="oOj0Gk">Regarding Ben Zobrist’s evening: Apart from the excellent greeting he received on his return to big-league play, he had a good game. He walked in addition to the bunt single, scored two runs and put a nice tag down on that play in the eighth. Joe Maddon says Ben will get more playing time in the upcoming series in Milwaukee.</p>
<p id="LxUR8f">The Cubs, along with the Brewers, will have <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/9/3/20847185/cubs-wednesday-off-tomorrow-will-be-their-first-such-in-september-in">a rare Wednesday off day</a> before those teams begin that series in Miller Park Thursday evening. The Cardinals, Phillies and Nationals will be in action Wednesday, so the Cubs have a chance to gain on all of them.</p>
<p id="gtke7W">Thursday’s series opener in Milwaukee will feature <span>Jose Quintana</span> for the Cubs and <span>Chase Anderson</span> for the Brewers, a rematch of last Friday’s contest at Wrigley <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/8/30/20841479/cubs-brewers-recap-nicholas-castellanos-jose-quintana-mlb-scores">won in convincing fashion by the Cubs</a>. Game time Thursday is 6:10 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via NBC Sports Chicago (and on MLB Network outside the Cubs and Brewers market territories).</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/9/4/20848895/cubs-mariners-recap-willson-contreras-kyle-schwarber-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2019-09-03T21:05:00-05:002019-09-03T21:05:00-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Mariners, Tuesday 9/3, 7:05 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tNqKJYZggK4wa0fCjA87mcvta1U=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65167381/1171793579.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="s5EW6t">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/9/3/20842743/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-mariners-tuesday-9-3-7-05-ctAl Yellon2019-09-03T20:05:00-05:002019-09-03T20:05:00-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Mariners, Tuesday 9/3, 7:05 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MaRyT7Fd7_EkoN-gACZalW2uyCg=/500x333:3878x2585/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65167146/usa_today_13299742.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="s5EW6t">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/9/3/20842742/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-mariners-tuesday-9-3-7-05-ctAl Yellon2019-09-03T19:00:00-05:002019-09-03T19:00:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Mariners, Tuesday 9/3, 7:05 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2FdFnaWsTfhZPbTEKXWJ2Cb_dP0=/1739x80:5568x2633/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65166847/1166742372.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="s5EW6t">Go get ‘em, Jon.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/9/3/20842740/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-mariners-tuesday-9-3-7-05-ctAl Yellon2019-09-03T17:00:00-05:002019-09-03T17:00:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Seattle Mariners preview, Tuesday 9/3, 7:05 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DGn29xbbyY2d46Y2bXKnoDJjobo=/0x189:3000x2189/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65166211/1171806699.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs go for the series, and season, sweep of the Mariners.</p> <p id="vjkuzP">Today’s Willson Contreras roster move: <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/9/3/20847746/cubs-roster-move-willson-contreras-activated">Here</a></p>
<p id="5a79yi">Another late roster move:</p>
<div id="1aVPUq">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> activate Derek Holland in addition to Contreras. Roster at 35.</p>— Bruce Miles (@BruceMiles2112) <a href="https://twitter.com/BruceMiles2112/status/1168986564703268866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="SG2rxS">Notes:</p>
<ul>
<li id="6omsoP">
<strong>PITCHING, PITCHING, PITCHING:</strong> Cubs pitchers have struck out 36 hitters in the team’s last three games, including 10 yesterday vs. the Mariners. The last time Cubs pitchers struck out at least 10 in four straight games was June 24-27 vs. Atlanta. </li>
<li id="BJrl6l">
<strong>FAREWELL, A.L. FRIENDS:</strong> The Cubs are 11-8 in interleague play this year; tonight is the last game vs. the American League in the 2019 regular season. The Cubs have had winning records in interleague play each of the last four seasons. Since the start of the 2016 season, the Cubs’ 51-28 (.646) interleague record is the best of any N.L. team vs. the A.L.</li>
<li id="c1VNbz">
<strong>IT’S A RELIEF:</strong> The Cubs bullpen has posted a 1.64 ERA (four earned runs in 22 innings) over the last six games, walking five and striking out 23 while holding opponents to a .212 average (18-for-85). </li>
<li id="UfL4Rs">
<strong>NICK THE STICK:</strong> <span>Nicholas Castellanos</span> finished August with 11 homers. The 11 homers are the most for any Cub in the month of August since <span>Sammy Sosa</span> hit 11 in August 2002. </li>
<li id="UhagaG">
<strong>HE’S HOT:</strong> <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>, last nine games since August 18: .522/.667/.957 (12-for-23) with a double, three home runs, six walks, nine runs and eight RBI.</li>
</ul>
<p id="jO8GFz">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">Kris Bryant was scratched due to right knee soreness.<br><br>New <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> lineup: <a href="https://t.co/9pbDcnxsiq">pic.twitter.com/9pbDcnxsiq</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1169000414924156928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="G3O2Hg"><span>Ben Zobrist</span> and <span>Willson Contreras</span> are back!</p>
<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 - September 3 at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a>. Lineups, Game Notes & More: <a href="https://t.co/HfUQqn0B9o">https://t.co/HfUQqn0B9o</a> <a href="https://t.co/MCqnHoe20l">pic.twitter.com/MCqnHoe20l</a></p>— MarinersPR (@MarinersPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarinersPR/status/1168987399713710081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 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>Felix Hernandez</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/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>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CzsUJKgHOxouYwvnygemozASEK8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16197991/usa_today_10737226.jpg">
<cite>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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</div>
<p id="SB0WdX">Since the All-Star break, Jon Lester has been the reverse Kyle Hendricks. What do I mean by that?</p>
<blockquote><p id="X1frhB"><strong>Lester at home since break:</strong> four starts, 21 innings, 9.42 ERA, 2.045 WHIP<br><strong>Lester on road since break:</strong> five starts, 29 innings, 2.79 ERA, 1.241 WHIP</p></blockquote>
<p id="VZNMii">Once again, if you can explain this to Joe Maddon and <span>Tommy Hottovy</span>, I’m sure they and Jon would like to hear your theory as to why Lester has been a solid starter in road games, a DFA candidate in home games.</p>
<p id="AqbyF7">Presuming the Cubs do get into the postseason tournament, at least we know: Hendricks starts at home, Lester on the road.</p>
<p id="NpdSn7"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA201905010.shtml">On the road back in May</a>, Lester held the Mariners to one hit in seven innings, with one walk and eight strikeouts. Whether that translates tonight, I honestly don’t know, since among the players Lester faced that day in Seattle, several are on the injured list, one is suspended and another has been traded. The only current Mariner who has faced Jon more than a couple of times is <span>Kyle Seager</span> (5-for-19, two home runs).</p>
<p id="aFqFKa">The Cubs faced Felix Hernandez <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA201904300.shtml">April 30 in Seattle</a> and hit him pretty well: eight hits, four runs in six innings. That included a home run by <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> and another by <span>Daniel Descalso</span> (remember him?).</p>
<p id="1F084y">King Felix spent three months on the injured list with lat and shoulder issues and has made two starts since his return. The results have not been great: 4.22 ERA, three home runs allowed in 10⅔ innings.</p>
<p id="AjzTu4">There are a lot of miles on his arm: 15 years, 2,707⅓ innings. In his rookie year, 2005, one of his teammates was <span>Jamie Moyer</span>, who will turn 57 in a couple months. And yet, Felix is two years younger than Jon Lester.</p>
<p id="Zxb1kZ">Today’s game is on NBC Sports Chicago.</p>
<p id="cxuSIp"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2019/09/03">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_09_03_seamlb_chnmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2019/CHN201909030.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="6vyV2B"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/9/3/20838580/chicago-cubs-seattle-mariners-preview-tuesdayAl Yellon