Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Pirates Tuesday 9/22 game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2020-09-23T10:00:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/212149072020-09-23T10:00:00-05:002020-09-23T10:00:00-05:002020 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 55
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A0M8gbdXD_JQcjDlAmL8rFKmPKw=/173x65:2406x1554/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67455195/usa_today_14967454.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Cubs rally back late to tie, still fall to Pirates 3-2</p> <p id="MlTAwl">A good number of the recent <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> losses have been vexing. Last night? Your mileage may vary, but for me I’m not losing any sleep over that one. It’s not even because they got into the playoffs via other teams losing last night either. </p>
<p id="2uo0I0">Let’s start with the bad. The Cubs continued not to hit lefthanded pitching. Let’s not make any mistakes, that’s a problem. I suspect at this point that there is at least some possibility a team could reach into the minors (if this were a normal year where the minor leagues existed) and pluck some kid from Double-A and have him shutdown this offense. This has been a problem that has cropped up at times in recent years, but has really exploded this year. A team with <span>Kris Bryant</span>, <span>Javier Baez</span> and <span>Willson Contreras</span> should not have that problem. Of course, the struggles (health and otherwise) of Bryant are tied into those results. Having three lefthanded hitters in the regular lineup (<span>Anthony Rizzo</span>, <span>Jason Heyward</span> and <span>Kyle Schwarber</span>) is part of that too. Obviously, the nose dive of <span>Javier Baez</span> has pushed it off the deep end in 2020. </p>
<p id="0eXUkx">But then there was the good. Rizzo’s clutch two-run homer to tie the game late. The Cubs have had a strange power outage of late. Getting a key homer was great. Getting it from Rizzo was greater. Rizzo is probably the most important bat in the Cubs lineup. His consistent approach at the plate drives the production of the lineup. His struggles this year have been front and center as the Cubs offense has fallen off. </p>
<p id="wAkb7m">Also quite good was <span>Adbert Alzolay</span>. The youngster threw four innings in relief and allowed two hits, two walks and struck out seven. His stuff was filthy. I also give him credit. I thought he was tiring a bit in the fifth when he allowed his one run. But then he bounced back and looked strong again in the sixth. That is such an important trait. Even on a night when your stuff is electric, you are sometimes going to allow runs. You have to be able to shake it off and move forward. Alzolay has some of the best stuff of any Cubs pitcher. If he were to take a step forward, that could be a big lift to this pitching staff. </p>
<p id="0KnMH1">Honorable mention, the return of <span>Jose Quintana</span>. I also thought he ran out of gas a bit at the end of his appearance. But he looked pretty good in two innings of work. The Cubs are a better team with Quintana than without him. He would be in line to work again on Sunday against the Sox. I hope he gets that chance. </p>
<p id="44rRqX">One final thought from me. I have done exactly zero statistical research on the issue, but my gut feeling is that I’d be extremely reluctant to let most relievers throw in two different innings. For years now, prior to the new three-batter rule, the overwhelming majority of pitchers went max effort for whatever part of an inning they were in and then were done. Obviously, some pitchers are used for longer outings, like Alzolay was last night. But guys like <span>Andrew Chafin</span> have been used almost exclusively in short outings, usually only to face a batter or two. Chafin recorded the last out of the eighth inning, then the first out of the ninth before allowing the walkoff homer to end it. This one might totally be my imagination, but I’d absolutely not be using guys across innings in the playoffs. </p>
<p id="cbwv8N">And 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) 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. With that, let’s get to the results.</p>
<p id="SyxY4S"><strong>Game 55, September 22: </strong><a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> 3, Cubs 2 (32-23)</p>
<div id="vJKBch">
<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=wins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2020-09-22&team=Pirates&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=2020-09-22&team=Pirates&dh=0&season=2020">FanGraphs</a></span>
</div>
<p id="NCjqL3"><strong>THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="5QIZX0">
<strong>Superhero: </strong>Anthony Rizzo (.402). He had two hits in four at bats, but he lands here because of the eighth inning two-out, two-run, game-tying homer. </li>
<li id="U98Noh">
<strong>Hero: </strong><span>Ryan Tepera</span> (.057). Ryan’s making a late run up the H&G leaderboard. He faced three batters, retired two and walked the other. </li>
<li id="wXIq1H">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong>Adbert Alzolay (.051). This would have been quite a bit higher had it not been for the run he allowed in the fifth. Still, a very impressive looking outing. </li>
</ul>
<p id="TVhSBC"><strong>THREE GOATS: </strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="qNc30q">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong>Andrew Chafin (-.310). The unfortunate reality of 2020 is that a guy like Chafin has little choice but to work his way back from injury in live action. </li>
<li id="Q2N2aT">
<strong>Goat: </strong>Javier Baez (-.224). With Kris Bryant out of the lineup, Javy is one of the key hitters against left-handed pitching. He was hitless in four at bats, though he at least put the ball in play four times. </li>
<li id="gvAd1i">
<strong>Kid: </strong>Kyle Schwarber (-.153). The Cubs simply do not have enough quality righthanded hitters. That keeps Schwarber in the lineup even against an improving lefthanded starter. Kyle was also hitless in four at bats. </li>
</ul>
<p id="oELb19"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong><span>Jacob Stallings</span> had a one-out walk-off homer for the Pirates in the ninth inning off of Chafin. (.419)</p>
<p id="zkXiql">*Cubs Play of the Game: Rizzo’s two-out, two-run, game-tying homer. (.322)</p>
<div id="alWg0p"><div data-anthem-component="poll:9446949"></div></div>
<p id="sxQi6t"><strong>Heroes and Goats Cumulative Standings: </strong>(Top 5/Bottom 5)</p>
<ul>
<li id="n5zUWx">
<span>Yu Darvish</span> 16</li>
<li id="pxbXnQ">
<span>Kyle Hendricks</span> 15</li>
<li id="ZChkzb">
<span>Ian Happ</span> 14.5</li>
<li id="CSzkme">Jason Heyward 14.5</li>
<li id="TC6BMV">
<span>Jason Kipnis</span> 11</li>
<li id="7aG6Uo">Willson Contreras -7.5</li>
<li id="l7h34t">
<span>Victor Caratini</span> -8</li>
<li id="AZxqoW">Anthony Rizzo -10.5</li>
<li id="yoAvBu">Kris Bryant -14</li>
<li id="qqkEix">Javier Baez -17</li>
</ul>
<p id="YkBb6X"><strong>Up Next: </strong>The Cubs and Pirates play game three of the four-game set. <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> goes for the Cubs against <span>Trevor Williams</span>. The Cubs are heavily favored in this one. Let’s hope the odds-makers have it right. </p>
<p id="bGZBo3"><strong>Scoreboard Watching: </strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="lzIjM1">
<a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> (3½ back), slight favorite over <a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a>
</li>
<li id="bjaEL6">
<a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> (4½ back) favorite over <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> (also 4½ back)</li>
<li id="KMDEyx">
<a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> favored over <a href="https://www.purplerow.com">Rockies</a>
</li>
<li id="N21ogE">Miami underdog against <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a>
</li>
<li id="oz0fSZ">Philles favored over <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p id="0SbJWd">I wouldn’t vote for this format to happen again under any circumstances, but it is definitely going to lead to one chaotic finish in the NL. </p>
<p id="C3PRkh"></p>
<p id="9jVdzI"> </p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2020/9/23/21452349/2020-cubs-heroes-and-goats-game-55Thomas Smith2020-09-23T08:00:00-05:002020-09-23T08:00:00-05:00Pirates 3, Cubs 2: Cubs clinch postseason spot despite loss
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mMn9tjVFxCuFly5oyBasd6-LWD8=/0x56:3228x2208/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67454397/usa_today_14967214.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>That wasn’t fun, but perhaps the Cubs finally have seen the talent Adbert Alzolay can bring to the ballclub.</p> <p id="QUjqqc">The <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> are in the postseason. They clinched a spot in the 16-team tournament when the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> lost the second game of their doubleheader to the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>.</p>
<p id="S0uAVV">So, yay?</p>
<p id="9KXL8G">That’s not the way any team wants to clinch such a thing, and Tuesday night is especially not the way any team wants to lose a game, <a href="http://www.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2020_09_22_chnmlb_pitmlb_1">which the Cubs did 3-2</a> on a walkoff homer by <span>Jacob Stallings</span> off <span>Andrew Chafin</span>, an example of how the three-batter rule can come back to hurt a team.</p>
<p id="1lljUY">But that was the end of the game, let’s look back from the beginning, and there was something quite positive that came out of this defeat.</p>
<p id="j8yO3W">Like the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> last week, the Cubs could do almost nothing off <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> lefthander <span>Steven Brault</span>. Brault held the Cubs hitless until the fourth inning, when <span>Cameron Maybin</span> beat out an infield ground ball that could have been ruled an error. The only other hit the Cubs had off Brault in seven innings was a sixth-inning single by <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>.</p>
<p id="DM6dyG">Meanwhile, the Pirates scored a run in the second inning off <span>Jose Quintana</span>, who was making his first start of 2020 after injuries and two relief outings. The Cubs clearly were taking things cautiously with Q, because he was removed after two innings and just 34 pitches.</p>
<p id="0Vntl8">That’s where the bright light of this game came in. <span>Adbert Alzolay</span>, who likely could have made this start, relieved Quintana and showed off some breaking stuff we haven’t seen from him previously. Alzolay threw four innings and the Pirates added a run off him to make it 2-0 in the fifth, but he struck out seven, using incredible offspeed pitches like this:</p>
<div id="noSdbP">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Adbert Alzolay, Ridiculous 84mph Curveball. <br><br>And sword. ⚔️ <a href="https://t.co/w4utBGSzcV">pic.twitter.com/w4utBGSzcV</a></p>— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1308563473492856835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2020</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="5PSEn6">And this:</p>
<div id="ZcoNJO">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">And this slider. Alzolay fired up after this K in the 6th... <a href="https://t.co/zz7xTlIIn3">pic.twitter.com/zz7xTlIIn3</a></p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1308571809927827456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2020</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="RS3aEy">If that’s the kind of stuff Alzolay has finally perfected, he’s a very strong candidate for a rotation spot in 2021. <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2020/2020-09/22/4fbe5592-a9aea7e7-3b210be4-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here’s the last of Alzolay’s seven strikeouts [VIDEO].</a></p>
<div id="8DdFCN"><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://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2020/2020-09/22/4fbe5592-a9aea7e7-3b210be4-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="CvslSP"></p>
<p id="4lq4Uj">Like Len Kasper said: Nasty stuff!</p>
<p id="TtetUc">Brault was finally removed from the game in the eighth and the Cubs broke through. With two out, <span>Willson Contreras</span> singled and <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2020/2020-09/22/35be841b-dad8bc35-a805c543-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">that brought up Rizzo [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="AHC3xu"><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://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2020/2020-09/22/35be841b-dad8bc35-a805c543-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="KtgAXD"></p>
<p id="OTjFH2">The home run didn’t go that far, but far enough, and check out the launch angle:</p>
<div id="SCfjhc">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> 2 @ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pirates?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pirates</a> 2 [T8-2o]:<br><br>Anthony Rizzo homers (10): fly ball to RF (2-run)<br><br>Hit: 367ft, 96.7mph, 27°<br><br>Pitch: 84.2mph Slider (LHP Sam Howard, 4)</p>— Home Run Tracker (@DingerTracker) <a href="https://twitter.com/DingerTracker/status/1308577809238024192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2020</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="qT88cS">That was Rizzo’s 10th home run of 2020 — but his first with a runner on base. He also hadn’t hit a home run at all since September 6 and had hit .185/.200/.204 (10-for-54) with one double since that last long ball. Rizzo is a notorious streak hitter and often goes on tremendous hot streaks for a week or two. There would be no better time than right now for him to do just that.</p>
<p id="m8oLoE"><span>Ryan Tepera</span> retired the first two Pirates in the bottom of the eighth but walked <span>Ke’Bryan Hayes</span>. <span>Colin Moran</span> was sent up to pinch hit and <span>David Ross</span> responded with lefthander <span>Andrew Chafin</span>, who retired Moran on a force play.</p>
<p id="LaJe22">The Cubs didn’t score in the top of the ninth and that’s where the three-batter rule hurt them. Had the Cubs taken the lead, <span>Craig Kimbrel</span> would have entered to close things out. But Ross opted to stay with Chafin to face switch-hitter <span>Josh Bell</span>. Bell’s generally worse vs. LHP and Chafin struck him out. But that meant Chafin, whose career splits are fairly even vs. LHB and RHB (and also this year in a small sample size), had to face Stallings.</p>
<p id="Gp483O">And that’s where the game ended, and that’s where we came in.</p>
<p id="hvUGCN">Not-so-fun fact: <span>Jose Martinez</span> went 0-for-3. In so doing he set a Cubs franchise record for most at-bats (and plate appearances) in a career by a position player without a hit. He’s 0-for-20 (21 plate appearances). The previous record had stood for more than a century. It had been held by <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moriage02.shtml">George Moriarty</a>, who went 0-for-18 (18 PA) for the Cubs in 1903-04. Of course, if Martinez gets a hit as a Cub that dubious record reverts to Moriarty, but I’m not expecting that to happen. Martinez has looked totally lost at the plate since he came to the Cubs and overall this year is now hitting .184/.268/.310 (16-for-87). Seriously, if there’s someone else out there on the waiver wire, Theo should go get him and release Martinez.</p>
<p id="9FEQG6">So the Cubs are in the October tournament. I can’t get too excited, yet, not with 16 teams in this year’s expanded playoffs; obviously, winning the division would be better. The Cardinals won Tuesday and the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> defeated the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>. Thus the Cubs lead St. Louis by 3½ games and Milwaukee and Cincinnati both by 4½. The magic number to clinch the division title remains at 4 entering Wednesday’s action.</p>
<p id="looKTa">The other related news is that the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> won Tuesday and took over the second seed from the Cubs, who trail Atlanta’s 33-22 record by one game. Worse, the Braves now own the tiebreaker, the better intradivisional record, as they are 23-15 within the NL East, while the Cubs are 22-16 within the NL Central. </p>
<p id="83C5lu">The Cubs move on and try to recapture the No. 2 seed as well as move closer to a division title Wednesday evening against the Pirates. <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> will start for the Cubs and <span>Trevor Williams</span> will go for Pittsburgh. Game time is again 6:05 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network, and also on MLB Network outside the Cubs and Pirates market territories.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2020/9/23/21452187/cubs-pirates-recap-adbert-alzolay-anthony-rizzo-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2020-09-22T20:05:00-05:002020-09-22T20:05:00-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Pirates, Tuesday 9/22, 6:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qJxJzuvma3SbdcPG5qmRLaQKoBE=/0x206:2501x1873/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67452654/1228645487.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="g8xE39">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2020/9/22/21451324/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-pirates-tuesday-9-22-6-05-ctAl Yellon2020-09-22T19:05:00-05:002020-09-22T19:05:00-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Pirates, Tuesday 9/22, 6:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zjMVk8OlXbVPDjXpz-6ozdcuA0I=/0x181:2927x2132/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67452473/1228645539.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="g8xE39">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2020/9/22/21451329/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-pirates-tuesday-9-22-6-05-ctAl Yellon2020-09-22T18:00:00-05:002020-09-22T18:00:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Pirates, Tuesday 9/22, 6:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zLLDA7UK9_d7pp2WyRIh7ZtZX7A=/218x191:4642x3140/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67452251/usa_today_14131038.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="g8xE39">Go get ‘em, Jose.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2020/9/22/21450871/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-pirates-tuesday-9-22-6-05-ctAl Yellon2020-09-22T16:30:00-05:002020-09-22T16:30:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates preview, Tuesday 9/22, 6:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rZypaDzIpcRLc8QAB0wwy-7LpaI=/1126x163:2656x1183/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67451711/1228645894.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs go for two straight over the Bucs.</p> <p id="4V4Sqv">Today’s roster move: <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2020/9/22/21450829/cubs-roster-move-jose-quintana-activated-injured-list-rex-brothers-optioned">Here</a></p>
<p id="X8PXyK">Tuesday notes:</p>
<ul>
<li id="EyUzfw">
<strong>HOT, OR NOT?:</strong> The <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> are 9-4 in their last 13 games and since August 30, the Cubs have won 13 of their last 21 contests. </li>
<li id="F9wTRY">
<strong>HAPP vs. BUCS:</strong> Pittsburgh-area native <span>Ian Happ</span> has reached safely in each of his last 11 games against the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> dating to September 15, 2019, hitting .390 (16-for-41) with four doubles, four homers, nine RBI and a 1.212 OPS in that stretch. </li>
<li id="rlWPt4">
<strong>WILLSON AT PNC:</strong> <span>Willson Contreras</span> is hitting .367 (22-for-60) with a 1.065 OPS in his last 16 games at PNC Park since May 29, 2018, reaching safely in each of those contests. In that span he has nine extra-base hits (six doubles, a triple, two homers) and eight RBI. </li>
<li id="VzJd6I">
<strong>WHAT A RELIEF!:</strong> The Cubs bullpen has posted a major league-best 2.00 ERA (16 earned runs in 72 innings) in 22 games since August 29, nearly a half-run better than the next-closest team. The <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> are next-best with a 2.42 ERA in that same time frame. In this span the Cubs pen has held opponents to a .176 average (43-for-245) and a .541 OPS, both the best marks from major league relievers since August 29. </li>
</ul>
<p id="MkSOMp">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="T5Sg5W"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="ER8hkK">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">José Quintana returns tonight against the Pirates! <a href="https://t.co/zGQCZyeqkR">pic.twitter.com/zGQCZyeqkR</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1308491062105853952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2020</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="S3MyZP">Sigh. <span>Jose Martinez</span> again. Hopefully the other eight guys can hit. <span>Jason Heyward</span> gets the night off vs. the lefty <span>Steven Brault</span> (though Heyward is 5-for-16 lifetime with three doubles against Brault) and <span>Kris Bryant</span> is out with the oblique injury suffered Monday. About KB:</p>
<div id="Sty0fH">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kris Bryant is getting treatment for his oblique injury and feeling better but unavailable for tonight’s game, Cubs manager David Ross said: “I’m still optimistic it’s not an IL thing right now. That means there’s still hope. The trainers are optimistic. He seems optimistic.”</p>— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) <a href="https://twitter.com/PJ_Mooney/status/1308512810691964928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2020</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="e4rFFk"><a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="gH4mu3">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jared Oliva will make his first start in left tonight.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoBucs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGoBucs</a> <a href="https://t.co/dvWQkNbkOi">pic.twitter.com/dvWQkNbkOi</a></p>— Pirates (@Pirates) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/1308474467853758474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2020</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<h2 id="GgR9hc">
<span>Jose Quintana</span>, LHP vs. <span>Steven Brault</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/RYYoPNlv4qRgRU1hDsz-i9qvlfw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21900069/usa_today_14509136.jpg">
<cite>Rick Scuteri-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/LUHJIch7FxBQ_Rmdv5411Zey-Us=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21691548/usa_today_14508322.jpg">
<cite>Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="AaHfxR">This start for Jose Quintana, I think, is a calculated risk.</p>
<p id="FcaYjz">Q missed the beginning of the season <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2020/7/2/21311501/jose-quintana-injured-doing-dishes-out-at-least-2-weeks">because he sliced his thumb open</a> in a dishwashing accident at home in early July. </p>
<p id="EWjF1b">He came back August 25 and threw three innings against the <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a>. Five days later he threw three more innings against the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>. The results: six innings, four runs, 6.00 ERA, nine strikeouts — aren’t great, but I thought he threw better than the numbers indicated.</p>
<p id="LkxSiJ">But on September 2 he went back on the injured list with what was termed <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2020/9/2/21419099/cubs-roster-move-jose-quintana-injured-list-jason-adam-recalled">“left lat inflammation.”</a> So now he hasn’t pitched in a game in three weeks. He threw 55 pitches and 61 pitches in the two outings last month; you’d want to hope he’s stretched out to maybe throw 75 tonight. </p>
<p id="Tc0Mra">I could put some of Q’s previous numbers against the Pirates here but I don’t think they mean much. This could be a great outing or a failure, there’s a wide range of possible results. Hope it works.</p>
<p id="OFWXYX">Steven Brault threw the game of his life last Thursday against the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT202009170.shtml">a two-hit complete-game victory</a>. It was the first time all year he’d gone past the <em>fifth</em> inning. His two starts previous to that were lousy: 7.27 ERA, 1.962 WHIP.</p>
<p id="f9o3UH">On the other hand, he threw three innings against the Cubs as a starter <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202008020.shtml">August 2 at Wrigley Field</a> and retired all nine batters he faced, striking out four and allowing only one ball out of the infield.</p>
<p id="9I2vwH">So, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯</p>
<p id="FKAry5">Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. <a href="https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/providers/">Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee.</a></p>
<p id="6w2xna"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2020/09/22">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=2020_09_22_chnmlb_pitmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2020/PIT202009220.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="7oSHCm">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> site <a href="http://www.redreporter.com/">Bucs Dugout</a>. If you do go there to interact with Pirates fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.</p>
<p id="mRtOMf">The 2020 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, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every thread related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post. </p>
<p id="F5ehVY">You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads 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>). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.</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="nLDxkB"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2020/9/22/21448065/chicago-cubs-pittsburgh-pirates-preview-tuesdayAl Yellon