Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Cardinals Tuesday 8/23 doubleheader game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2022-08-24T09:45:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/230802152022-08-24T09:45:00-05:002022-08-24T09:45:00-05:002022 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Games 122 and 123
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<img alt="MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ufrk5cNMXRMFOUfcVn2zgqW7yUA=/786x393:4048x2568/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71279324/usa_today_18913473.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs split a pair with the Cardinals</p> <p id="tH2kZl">Tuesday’s baseball was one of those days where I’m reminded of why I would never try to make any money betting on baseball. In Game 1, the Cubs started a guy who began the year repeating a level at Double-A against a Cardinals team that had won eight in a row. They led off one of the least productive hitters on the team and Willson Contreras was out of the lineup. They not only won that game, but Javier Assad and four relievers collaborated on a five-hit shutout. </p>
<p id="OrJ3j0">Then in Game 2, Adrian Sampson has been in a pretty nice groove, coming off of a win in his last start. To be fair, I’d still bet on the Cardinals in that one, but if the Cubs were going to win one, that would be the one, right? Nah. The Cubs were clobbered 13-3 in a game that left me with the dilemma of if I’m going to list the three batters, three outs recorded of “reliever” Franmil Reyes as one of the positives. </p>
<p id="u9RXld">The day though belonged to Assad with a very big assist from Michael Rucker. It’s becoming comical that the hallmark of the Cubs organization was that they just couldn’t develop a pitcher. In each and every instance of a pitcher seemingly coming out of nowhere, I tip my cap to the player who has worked their butt off. It’s never as easy as saying that a team has put in place infrastructure to unlock the potential of a player. That player has to buy what they are selling and do the work. </p>
<p id="7tfJtI">Regardless, these days it seems like pitchers are just coming out of the woodwork. The Cubs appear to be getting better and better at the combination of identifying pitchers that they can help and significantly improving the hit rate on developing those pitchers. In the last few years, they’ve had excellent luck with retread relievers. To be fair, largely the entire time since Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have been with the Cubs, they’ve excelled at finding a bullpen and rarely was that accomplished by spending a lot of money in that area. </p>
<p id="7xETVV">The rub had been internally developing options. But, with the trade of Scott Effross, a largely unheralded player through the system, we see a pitcher that was homegrown have a significant impact, first here and then as part of a trade. Early in the year, Keegan Thompson, another fairly under the radar prospect, was having terrific success out of the bullpen before necessity put him into the starting rotation after seemingly every starter that was even conceived of for the 2022 Cubs was injured. Tuesday gave us for innings of Assad and two very key innings out of Rucker. Again, both homegrown products. </p>
<p id="wMwA3w">The Cardinals have been the most consistently good team in the NL Central for a while now, going back to even before the Cubs championship team’s rise and fall. The Dodgers have been a force in the NL as a whole for a long time. Both teams certainly to differing degrees make splashy free agent signings and trades for big name high dollar players. But to dismiss the success of either team as solely buying championships is totally dismissing the hallmark of both teams. That hallmark is consistently churning out talent from their minor league system. Sometimes those player make contributions internally and sometimes they are the coveted pieces in those trades for high end talent. </p>
<p id="0TGOl7">As two teams that are almost always picking in the back half and and even later part of the first round due to their sustained success. But their success doesn’t come solely from first round picks. It comes from success up and down the draft. It’s taken a very long time, but the Cubs system is starting to produce some of those “hits” in the draft. Effross was a 15th round pick in 2015. Rucker appears to be maybe turning a corner. If he can do so, that’s an 11th round pick in 2016. </p>
<p id="r4t6rq">It goes on. I’ve talked several times about the peculiar 2017 draft. So far, it is one of the few times since Theo Epstein came to Chicago that the first pick has been one of the least successful of the draft class. Of course, they were coming off a <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> win that year. But Brandon Hughes, who picked up his third save in Game 1, was a 16th-round pick (as an outfielder). Erich Uelmen, who also pitched in Game 1, was a fourth-round pick and has been generally terrific in limited opportunity since the trade deadline. </p>
<p id="ii7pUU">It’s too early to spike any footballs or break into end zone dances. Though I’ll note that I didn’t even mention Justin Steele above and I’ve seen several arguments on various sites recently that he is the actual belle of the ball for recent Cubs prospects. These are the glimpses of what can be. At the end of the day, you start really patting yourself on the back when you have a guy from your system taking the ball for a playoff game or when your guy is throwing in the All-Star game. </p>
<p id="eWYuBM">The Cubs do get at least part of a gold star for Dylan Cease. He finished his development on the other side of town, but it’s not as if he was traded and then broke out. The Cubs scouted him, drafted him, started his development and then turned that high upside into a much needed starting pitcher for a team trying to repeat as World Series champions. Unfortunately, you can’t ever divorce the NLCS loss from the evaluation of that trade. Had the Cubs won the World Series back-to-back with Jose Quintana making key contributions, there would be a whole lot less heartburn and tears over that one. I imagine there are a whole lot of you that I could go back and forth with as to if that was the wrong move or just the wrong result. For me, I hated the haul we traded in that one but always thought it was totally indefensible and have always been a little confused about how much less Q was away from the south side. </p>
<p id="FpW09Z">Regardless, the jury is out. There is a lot of work still to be done. But I’m not going to try to hide my enthusiasm and joy about the Cubs starting to show signs of a player scouting and development group that not only escaping the bottom of the barrel, but starting to trend very favorably towards the top. They’ll need to produce some elite results outside of first round picks and key international signings. But, the outlook is better than it’s been at any time in my memory. </p>
<p id="fufG0j">For the doubleheader, I’m abandoning the normal three positives. I’m going to look at both games and just call out what I see as positive performances. </p>
<ul>
<li id="xoX1L1">Javier Assad. Welcome to the show. 20 batters, 12 outs isn’t exactly world beater status, but that was a very good team and they plated zero runs. Not bad for a kid who I imagine had a whole lot going through his head all day long. </li>
<li id="c42XED">Michael Rucker. When Assad departed with first and second with no outs and Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado due, the game could have really flipped. He not only retired the two of them, but all six batters he faced, including two future Hall of Famers in Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols. The latter has been in an amazing hot streak. </li>
<li id="3F7YWG">Brandon Hughes only faced three batters in converting his third save. You don’t hand the role to him of course, but Hughes doesn’t look at all uncomfortable in the ninth- inning role.</li>
<li id="N2Gmt9">Christopher Morel continues to flash some signs of coming out of his first prolonged major league struggles. He had a pair of hits and scored one of the runs in the first game. </li>
<li id="fkprIW">Nick Madrigal had two of the Cubs seven hits and also drew a walk in the second game. </li>
<li id="Lu9aBe">Did I mention Reyes faced three batters and recorded three outs? Hitting the red hot Pujols with a runner at third with no outs, down nine was crafty. He then induced a ground ball double play and recorded a strikeout to get out of a sticky situation only down 10.</li>
</ul>
<p id="VHv9xb">Moving along. Let’s turn to the Heroes and Goats from game one. </p>
<p id="r8b0pC"><strong>Game 122, August 23: </strong>Cubs 2, Cardinals 0 (53-69)</p>
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<figcaption>Fangraphs</figcaption>
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<p id="cJLnKI">Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.</p>
<p id="m6yynY"><strong>THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="72sLkF">
<strong>Superhero: </strong>Michael Rucker (.249). 2IP (6 batters), K (W 3-1)</li>
<li id="QSKnsl">
<strong>Hero: </strong>Seiya Suzuki (.139). 1-4, RBI, SB, K</li>
<li id="R39jUr">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong>Erich Uelmen (.105). 1⅓ IP (6 batters), H, HBP</li>
</ul>
<p id="oBGfvt"><strong>THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="wDavXD">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong>Yan Gomes (-.082). 0-4</li>
<li id="TrqXKd">
<strong>Goat: </strong>Rafael Ortega (-.076). 0-2, BB, K</li>
<li id="Wg2K2K">
<strong>Kid: </strong>Nico Hoerner (-.059). 0-4, RBI</li>
</ul>
<p id="Ld7Mie"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong>With runners on first and second and one out in the third, Seiya Suzuki singled off of Adam Wainwright to drive in the Cubs second run of the game. (.111)</p>
<p id="Sg0juP">*Cardinals Play of the Game: Lars Nootbaar led off the fifth inning with a double with the Cubs leading by two. (.075)</p>
<div id="hyCixY"><div data-anthem-component="poll:11478298"></div></div>
<p id="1Fvrcm"><strong>Game 123, August 23: </strong>Cardinals 13 at Cubs 3 (53-70)</p>
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<figcaption>Fangraphs</figcaption>
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<p id="YJbrLU">Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.</p>
<p id="zdTeVY"><strong>THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="42j513">
<strong>Superhero: </strong>Nick Madrigal (.061). 2-3, R, BB</li>
<li id="IIkLu5">
<strong>Hero: </strong>Rafael Ortega (.023). 1-2, 2B, RBI, R</li>
<li id="sCP5ZJ">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong>Patrick Wisdom (.009). 1-4, 2B, K</li>
</ul>
<p id="4YBzjc"><strong>THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="7OVAPp">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong>Adrian Sampson (-.189). 3⅓ IP (17 batters), 8H, 5R (L 1-4)</li>
<li id="IvLdFD">
<strong>Goat: </strong>Nicholas Padilla (-.090). 1⅔ IP (9 batters), 2H, 2BB, R, K, WP</li>
<li id="1SCaCi">
<strong>Kid: </strong>Seiya Suzuki (-.075). 1-4, R, K, DP</li>
</ul>
<p id="xP5Tt3"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong>Tyler O’Neill homered with a runner on first in the fourth inning. Until then, it had only been a 1-0 game. (.179)</p>
<p id="yWABKj">*Cubs Play of the Game: Nick Madrigal led off the bottom of the first by reaching on an error in a scoreless game. (.035)</p>
<div id="FgS5Bx"><div data-anthem-component="poll:11478336"></div></div>
<p id="iTnQrj"><strong>Rizzo Award Cumulative Standings: </strong>(Top 5/Bottom 5)</p>
<p id="eEPeIk">The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.</p>
<ul>
<li id="9NIaxR">David Robertson +22.5</li>
<li id="rE1bFw">Nico Hoerner +19.5</li>
<li id="wWZRvF">Christopher Morel +18</li>
<li id="VnMiON">Scott Effross +17</li>
<li id="gEglTA">Patrick Wisdom +13.5</li>
<li id="hQIS2m">Daniel Norris/Frank Schwindel -9.5</li>
<li id="qUAR8H">Yan Gomes -13</li>
<li id="e4BbIL">Jason Heyward -15.5</li>
<li id="PuJlQD">Rafael Ortega -16.5</li>
</ul>
<p id="IKeMnt"><strong>Up Next: </strong>The fourth of five games is Wednesday night at Wrigley Field. Luke Farrell will make his 2022 MLB debut for the Cubs after returning to the organization. The Cardinals counter with Miles Mikolas (10-9, 3.32) in what is not even remotely an even match on paper. But games aren’t decided on paper, right? </p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/8/24/23319694/2022-cubs-heroes-and-goats-games-122-and-123Thomas Smith2022-08-24T08:00:00-05:002022-08-24T08:00:00-05:00Cubs, Cardinals split doubleheader in two wildly different games
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<figcaption>Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs fashioned a nice win in the opener, then got blown out in the nightcap.</p> <p id="cpgd1G">The Cubs went from the proverbial sublime to the ridiculous Tuesday at Wrigley Field.</p>
<p id="pLwndG">In the first game, Javier Assad made a solid MLB debut and four Cubs relievers shut the Cardinals down for five innings in <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cardinals-vs-cubs/2022/08/23/663163#game_state=final,game_tab=box,game=663163">a nicely-played 2-0 win</a>.</p>
<p id="tx2upl">The nightcap? Uh... not so much. Adrian Sampson got hit hard and by the time it was over, the only Cubs pitcher who didn’t give up any runs was... Franmil Reyes. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cardinals-vs-cubs/2022/08/23/663113#game_state=final,game_tab=box,game=663113">The ridiculous 13-3 defeat</a> only counts once in the standings, of course.</p>
<p id="Vk7Cxx">Let’s start with the good stuff, the day game.</p>
<p id="Yr8AIR">Assad was, to be sure, a bit shaky. He walked four and had traffic on the bases in all four of the innings he threw. He was the beneficiary of <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-08/23/8ebd5219-713cac84-84f283ae-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">this good play at the plate [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="OCepIY">Lars Nootbaar looked like he wanted to create a new dance craze with that move.</p>
<p id="tVZZPR">The Cubs put the only two runs they’d need on the board in the third. Christopher Morel led off with a single and went to third on a single by Zach McKinstry. <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-08/23/e1ca2513-9fd94d4d-4b874658-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Nico Hoerner’s groundout made it 1-0 [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="qw0OU4">McKinstry took second on the play, and after a walk by Ian Happ, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-08/23/aa8fb36c-f017de54-15394541-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Seiya Suzuki made it 2-0 [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="84UvKZ">Assad finally got in too much trouble to stay in the game, a leadoff double and walk in the fifth. He left to a warm ovation and Michael Rucker set down the next three Cardinals to end the threat. Rucker also threw a 1-2-3 seventh and has been quite good lately — a 2.03 ERA in 13⅓ innings since his latest recall August 2. As for Assad, I thought he threw pretty well overall despite the walks, and he’s likely to stick around and get a few more opportunities. The Cubs would have had to add him to the 40-man this winter to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, and so this way they can see if he’s worth keeping around.</p>
<p id="gg7UWO">Sean Newcomb could have gotten out of the seventh inning 1-2-3 except for a rare throwing error by Nico Hoerner. Erich Uelmen entered and allowed a single, but then completed the inning with an infield popup, and then threw a scoreless eighth.</p>
<p id="f6hBbl">David Ross’ choice of Brandon Hughes to close this game was interesting. A switch-hitter (Dylan Carlson) and two lefthanded hitters were due up, but the Cardinals sent up RH hitters to bat for both LH hitters, which Ross likely anticipated. This was a good test for Hughes in a save situation facing all RH hitters, and he retired all three. <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-08/23/6d58c5d4-e3b85071-fc855e4e-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here’s the final out [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="JGCMJR">Nice work by Hughes and I suspect he’ll get more high-leverage work as the season continues.</p>
<p id="QO8bzp">The night game — well, probably the less said the better. Adrian Sampson started off well, but by the third inning you could tell he didn’t have it, because he was getting hit hard even while recording outs. It all blew up in the fourth, when the Cardinals scoreod five runs, including a pair of homers.</p>
<p id="TUzciw">Really, everyone could have gone home right then. The Cubs did put three on the board, so let me show you the highlights. In the sixth, Nick Madrigal led off with a walk and <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-08/23/1381a9a4-c90ff34e-63e512ac-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Rafael Ortega, batting for Happ, doubled him in [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="JvBNu5">Since I was at the game I didn’t hear Pat Foley calling it on Marquee, but he sounds just fine on that clip. His rendering of “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch was well-received at the ballpark:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pat Foley conducts the 7th inning stretch <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLBlackhawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NHLBlackhawks</a> <a href="https://t.co/h9AXUG8hm7">pic.twitter.com/h9AXUG8hm7</a></p>— Marquee Sports Network Plus (@MarqueePlus) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarqueePlus/status/1562267925897445377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2022</a>
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<p id="sRDO0B">The Cubs added two more in the eighth and for a moment, the game appeared sort-of close. With one out, Madrigal singled — yet another multi-hit game for him. He was forced at second, and went to third on a single by Suzuki. <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-08/23/d631f0fe-962531a6-2c710d59-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">A run then scored on this wild pitch [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="MfohXF">Suzuki took second on the play and scored on <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-08/23/a3dc9c29-499f3749-78c09a3a-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">this double by Reyes [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="HBBe55"></p>
<p id="hltK5O">The inning ended one batter later when McKinstry popped up.</p>
<p id="VHvknW">Then the ninth became silly season. Anderson Espinoza, who had thrown three pretty good innings, ran out of gas in the ninth and issued a pair of walks and a single before being lifted for Steven Brault, who didn’t retire any of the three hitters he faced.</p>
<p id="jXePUw">Ross decided he’d had enough and sent Reyes out to pitch, which at least provided some entertainment for the remnants of the crowd. Albert Pujols was sent up to pinch-hit and was hit by a pitch, and no, Gameday, these were not “changeups” or a “curveball”:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2QONnQ3xTVhOJ1Y44Ry49eMb008=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23967531/Screen_Shot_2022_08_24_at_6.38.30_AM.png">
</figure>
<p id="ZrhaUs">Reyes then induced a double-play ball, which scored a run, and struck out Paul DeJong, thus becoming the only Cub who pitched in this game and did not allow a run:</p>
<div id="YzeS3N">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Franmil Reyes just struck out Paul DeJong looking on a 89.8 mph fastball to end the 9th. An efficient 10-pitch scoreless appearance for Reyes. Baseball.</p>— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) <a href="https://twitter.com/M_Montemurro/status/1562278231545364480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="B3roBb">And yes, at almost 90 miles per hour, I’d definitely call that a fastball.</p>
<p id="xYOfi2">The Cubs haven’t swept a doubleheader from the Cardinals since June 8, 1992 and not in Wrigley Field since October 5, 1991 and those streaks remained intact after the doubleheader split. This was, for now at least (and, hopefully, for good), the last doubleheader for the Cubs this year. They’ve played six of them (five at Wrigley) and split two and been swept four times, an overall record of 2-10 in twin bills.</p>
<p id="qShiSe">The series with the Cardinals continues Wednesday evening at Wrigley Field. Remember Luke Farrell? He pitched in 20 games (two starts) for the Cubs in 2018, and since then has been with the Rangers and Twins. He’s being called up from Triple-A Iowa to start Wednesday’s game. Someone will have to be removed from the 40-man roster to make room; I suspect that will wind up being Kyle Hendricks placed on the 60-day injured list, since it was announced the other day that Hendricks won’t pitch again this year. The Cardinals will counter with Miles Mikolas. Game time is 7:05 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.</p>
<p id="1q6F39"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/8/24/23319637/cubs-cardinals-doubleheader-recap-javier-assad-franmil-reyes-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2022-08-23T20:35:00-05:002022-08-23T20:35:00-05:00Overflow thread: Cubs vs. Cardinals Game 2, Tuesday 8/23, 7:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/j2WEsf2K2MDzD1zGtOJU8vTGvOs=/0x0:2066x1377/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71277463/1417434554.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="YqY0tj">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/8/23/23316170/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-cardinals-game-2-tuesday-8-23-7-05-ctAl Yellon2022-08-23T19:00:00-05:002022-08-23T19:00:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Cardinals Game 2, Tuesday 8/23, 7:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lyn0ZMUNNnH5aGUVqf5YAKTk_1c=/369x346:3900x2700/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71277325/1242598483.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="YqY0tj">Go get ‘em, Adrian.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/8/23/23316166/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-cardinals-game-2-tuesday-8-23-7-05-ctAl Yellon2022-08-23T17:30:00-05:002022-08-23T17:30:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Game 2 preview, Tuesday 8/23, 7:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Rc80hkHWsXitJT5hOsrMkhXltcw=/195x306:2164x1619/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71277012/1417428426.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs go for a doubleheader sweep!</p> <p id="asUp7r">Nice pitching and timely hitting won Game 1. Full recap tomorrow at 8 a.m. CT.</p>
<p id="yJzjVD">Here’s all the info you’ll need for tonight’s doubleheader Game 2.</p>
<p id="bDrEda"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="y17cP8">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is tonight's Game 2 lineup at Wrigley Field!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsPlayTwo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsPlayTwo</a> <a href="https://t.co/jiumUc9DOg">pic.twitter.com/jiumUc9DOg</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1562204078800883712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="fDFerc"> The <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> lineup was not available at posting time. Please check <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bleedcubbieblue">the BCB Twitter feed</a> for the Cardinals lineup.</p>
<h2 id="weDoee">Adrian Sampson, RHP vs. Jake Woodford, RHP</h2>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0S0WiV0h8x7vTnVZEihRbI2fAAI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23650457/usa_today_18072307.jpg">
<cite>USA TODAY NETWORK</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/oGf6K973TEvkbCeEevmETlcQ8AM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23954396/usa_today_18073937.jpg">
<cite>USA TODAY NETWORK</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="wyElHD">Cubs fans first really started to take notice of Adrian Sampson when he had a solid outing against the Cardinals <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN202206250.shtml">June 25 in St. Louis</a> — two runs in five innings.</p>
<p id="IsR4zg">Sampson has put together good starts nearly every time out, including 5x shutout innings against the Orioles <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL202208180.shtml">last Thursday in Baltimore</a>.</p>
<p id="oQiKjY">Here’s hoping for another one of those today.</p>
<p id="roVu4E">Jake Woodford has been a spot starter for games like this for the Cardinals in the past, but he has not started a game this year. In fact, he hasn’t thrown more than 27 pitches in a game since August 5, when he threw 61 for Triple-A Memphis.</p>
<p id="0QJ4VQ">So, this might wind up being a bullpen game for the Cardinals. Woodford has two appearances vs. the Cubs this year totaling 3⅔ innings. He’s allowed five hits and three runs in those outings.</p>
<p id="0c9Plr">That’s all I’ve got.</p>
<p id="zpB5Bu">Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. <a href="https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/providers/">Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee<strong>.</strong></a> </p>
<p id="qvhQGh">A reminder that retired Blackhawks announcer Pat Foley <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/8/16/23308634/retired-blackhawks-announcer-pat-foley-will-call-cubs-game-next-week">will be calling this game on Marquee</a> (as well as part of the game on radio on 670 The Score).</p>
<p id="6w2xna"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2022/08/23/">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=2022_08_23_slnmlb_chnmlb_2">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2022/CHN202208232.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="7oSHCm">Please visit our SB Nation Cardinals site <a href="http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Viva el Birdos</a>. If you do go there to interact with Cardinals fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.</p>
<p id="mRtOMf">The 2022 Game Thread procedure will be like last years, similar to what we’ve used for Spring Training.</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 post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, 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 the overflow thread 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 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.</p>
<p id="cWIBoH">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
<p id="YKOZbJ"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/8/23/23316163/chicago-cubs-vs-st-louis-cardinals-game-2-preview-tuesdayAl Yellon2022-08-23T14:50:00-05:002022-08-23T14:50:00-05:00Overflow thread: Cubs vs. Cardinals Game 1, Tuesday 8/23, 7:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xI8Qkfq6P3mFuQxsdKNRxc9Qfjw=/295x199:2884x1925/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71276318/usa_today_18912657.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="YqY0tj">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/8/23/23316171/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-cardinals-game-1-tuesday-8-23-7-05-ctAl Yellon2022-08-23T13:15:00-05:002022-08-23T13:15:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Cardinals Game 1, Tuesday 8/23, 1:20 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PA8zlfCzdB6ZBRIX_bhNASGP0S4=/16x61:1537x1075/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71275804/Screen_Shot_2022_08_22_at_10.43.32_PM.0.png" />
<figcaption>Micah Manuel</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="YqY0tj">Go get ‘em, Javier.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/8/23/23316168/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-cardinals-game-1-tuesday-8-23-1-20-ctAl Yellon2022-08-23T11:30:00-05:002022-08-23T11:30:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Game 1 preview, Tuesday 8/23, 1:20 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hklsCJjHlFWVFhO_8AXNcqE3yl4=/166x169:3837x2616/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71275186/1417162833.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Two games today!</p> <p id="dGzH0F"><strong>SITE NOTE:</strong> As is my practice for split doubleheaders, there won’t be a separate recap for Game 1 after it ends. A preview for Game 2 will post shortly before that game starts, around 5:30 p.m. CT. A full recap of both games will post here Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. CT.</p>
<p id="yGFvZv">Today's roster move: <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/8/23/23317873/cubs-roster-move-javier-assad-added-40-man">Here</a> </p>
<p id="nT5dK1">Tuesday notes...</p>
<ul>
<li id="whqAwh">
<strong>ABOUT LAST NIGHT:</strong> Drew Smyly allowed one run Monday and has allowed two or fewer runs in four straight starts dating to August 6, posting a 1.13 ERA (three earned runs in 24 innings) during that stretch. The 1.13 ERA is the second-lowest in the majors (minimum four games started) in that span.</li>
<li id="fyspjY">
<strong>THE PITCHING IS STILL GOOD:</strong> Cubs starters have posted a 2.89 ERA (54 earned runs in 168 innings) in the team’s last 32 games and Cubs pitchers as a whole have posted a 2.78 ERA (89 earned runs in 288⅓ innings) since July 16, the second-lowest ERA in the majors during that span.</li>
<li id="7U9DGY">
<strong>ONE-HITTERS:</strong> The Cubs have been one-hit six times since Cole Hamels’ no-hitter against them in 2015. The Cubs players who got the lone hit in the other five games before Christopher Morel on Monday: Dexter Fowler (<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201605310.shtml">May 30, 2016</a>), Addison Russell (<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI201809190.shtml">September 19, 2018</a>), Nick Castellanos (<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN201908010.shtml">September 8, 2019</a>), Kris Bryant (<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202104060.shtml">April 6, 2021</a>) and Patrick Wisdom (<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202108210.shtml">August 21, 2021</a>).</li>
<li id="N75lKK">
<strong>NOT WINNING THE CLOSE ONES:</strong> The Cubs’ 68 games decided by two or fewer runs are second-most in the majors behind Pittsburgh (73). The team’s .441 winning percentage (30-38) in those games is seventh-lowest in the majors, and after Monday the Cubs’ record in one-run games is 18-23 (.439).</li>
</ul>
<p id="AzPJwC">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="628IUi"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="8lpKyI">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let's play two! <a href="https://t.co/4agM1l2vOF">pic.twitter.com/4agM1l2vOF</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1562100701261664256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="nU1Gao">The <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> lineup was not available at posting time. Please check <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bleedcubbieblue">the BCB Twitter feed</a> for the Cardinals lineup.</p>
<h2 id="1GiR1T">Javier Assad, RHP vs. Adam Wainwright, RHP</h2>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-_EbUNSh6neoFrQ0R99bnrc1saY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23965171/STL.jpg">
<cite>Larry Kave/Myrtle Beach Pelicans</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/LdnVdpBfn9CGnHf8LrCkcTepWRc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23601257/usa_today_18075567.jpg">
<cite>USA TODAY NETWORK</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="f0G94G">Well, this is a surprise.</p>
<p id="dxQjgd">Javier Assad wasn’t on anyone’s Cubs prospect radar before the season started. <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/6/27/23183034/chicago-cubs-top-20-prospects-brennen-davis-pete-crow-armstrong-kevin-alcantara-caleb-kilian">Josh has him ranked 18th in his latest update.</a></p>
<p id="DIRAfR">He’s from Mexico and the Cubs signed him in 2016. He’s 25 and has a 2.66 ERA and 1.237 WHIP in 23 appearances (21 starts) this year combined between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa.</p>
<p id="A9dgwQ">That’s really all I know. Those of you who follow the system closely might know more. In his last outing <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/665450">August 18 vs. Indianapolis</a>, he threw six shutout innings and struck out six.</p>
<p id="PJtDaL">Adam Wainwright seems ageless. At age 40 he’s having one of his better seasons. He has thrown 14 innings against the Cubs this year, and allowed two runs.</p>
<p id="tMbfID">Today marks Wainwright’s 47th career start against the Cubs. That’s third-most by anyone in the divisional play era (1969 to date). Only Bob Forsch (49) and Steve Carlton (65) had more.</p>
<p id="zMRMfP">This will not be an easy game against a very good pitcher.</p>
<p id="zpB5Bu">Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. <a href="https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/providers/">Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee<strong>.</strong></a> This game is also on MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Cardinals market territories).</p>
<p id="6w2xna"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2022/08/23/">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=2022_08_23_slnmlb_chnmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2022/CHN202208231.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="7oSHCm">Please visit our SB Nation Cardinals site <a href="http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Viva el Birdos</a>. If you do go there to interact with Cardinals fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.</p>
<p id="mRtOMf">The 2022 Game Thread procedure will be like last years, similar to what we’ve used for Spring Training.</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 post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, 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 the overflow thread 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 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.</p>
<p id="cWIBoH">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
<p id="YKOZbJ"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2022/8/23/23316162/chicago-cubs-st-louis-cardinals-game-1-preview-tuesdayAl Yellon