Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Dodgers Saturday 4/15 game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2023-04-16T10:00:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/234485252023-04-16T10:00:00-05:002023-04-16T10:00:00-05:002023 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 13
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<figcaption>Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The one that got away...</p> <p id="ylfsU8">Saturday night’s Cubs game was pitched and defended well on both sides. There were some spectacular defensive plays and also some excellence of execution by the pitchers on both sides. The nature of the closer’s job is that they get an inordinate amount of blame for when they don’t nail down the win after eight innings of hard work. Similarly, the manager’s decision-making gets blown up and micro-analyzed when the team loses a close one. </p>
<p id="GF6vNL">I’ll never say that Michael Fulmer is without blame in this or that David Ross doesn’t make some questionable decisions with his substitutions and bullpen usage. But I will say that at least as important as Fulmer’s ninth is the eighth inning when Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki failed to add to the Cubs lead after having the bases loaded and one out. Hat tip there to Dodgers reliever Caleb Ferguson for an excellent job shutting the door. </p>
<p id="ara0ZN">These losses always sting so I’m not going to belabor it this morning in a thousand words. <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/4/16/23685049/cubs-dodgers-recap-patrick-wisdom-jameson-taillon-mlb-scores">Al’s recap has shared all the gory details.</a> You certainly hate to lose a game that you were leading after eight innings. There’s no question. Ross and Fulmer, Happ and Suzuki. I don’t have to go looking for their postgame interviews to know that they all spent their waking and their resting hours after last night’s game shaking their head about that one. They all want to be better in those spots. But collectively, they couldn’t nail it down last night. </p>
<p id="2fYbCN">I’m going to take a different line in this space. The Cubs won the first game in Los Angeles and led the other one with two outs in the ninth inning. There was some worry that the Cubs would go west and get buzzsawed. That’s not at all what’s happened. If anything, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> have been on the wrong end of this one. For 17 innings of this series, it has been advantage Cubs. </p>
<p id="5mAQLD">On Saturday, they lost in large part because they couldn’t add on when they had the lead. But the offense has largely been good. I don’t know where this season is going and that’s a good thing. By this time last year, the team had lost five of seven and had seen .500 for the last time. We were all pretty sure where that was going. Many of us may expect that this season is going to end with a similar record to last year, but we can’t know for certain. I was definitely in that boat. I may well be right, but I’m far from confident that I was right about that. </p>
<p id="2CgkeF">Some of us certainly were saying this team would be a fringe playoff contender. If that was your impression of this team before the season, then you haven’t really seen anything to discourage you from that thought. The best that this team can be has been displayed through the early going. Certainly, they are no juggernaut. They are going to lose some of these tight games. Their offense is not elite and is going to get shutdown at times by good pitching. The pitching is good, but the bullpen hasn’t come together yet. Even when it does, there is no one down there who strikes terror in the hearts and minds of the opposition. </p>
<p id="X15qoc">But this team through a small sample of 13 games has shown that it can compete. They haven’t looked overmatched save for maybe a few innings in one of the losses to the Brewers in the season opening series. They’ve been good enough that the questions aren’t about how they close the talent gap against better teams, but rather about how different decision making might have this team at least two or three games more into the win column. </p>
<p id="xbERjw">Close games can break either way, but if you’d have told me that with a couple of good plays here and there that this team might have started with nine or 10 wins out of its first 13, I wouldn’t have bought it. That they didn’t doesn’t shock me. But that they had that chance does surprise me a little. I’m certainly looking forward to the ride, because it definitely gives the appearance that this team can be a fair bit better than I thought it would be. </p>
<p id="DE11gc">Let’s find three positive performances out of Saturday’s loss. </p>
<ol>
<li id="wUn4MX">Jameson Taillon looked like the pitcher that the Cubs were excited to add to the mix in the offseason. Would I have liked him to get a little deeper than five innings? For sure, but this is so often how modern teams approach a game. He allowed two hits, two walks and struck out seven. Yes, please. </li>
<li id="ZhytOb">Patrick Wisdom has to get the second spot here. The Cubs only had four hits n the game, though they did draw six walks. Patrick’s was the only extra-base hit. His homer could have been the sole run in a 1-0 win </li>
<li id="SgIWR6">I try not to do a lot of package entries, but in a night when WPA gave me not one but two ties for the podium, I’m going to go ahead and package Mark Leiter Jr. and Keegan Thompson here. The setup guys faced 11 batters in tossing three scoreless innings against one of the best offenses in baseball. One walk, one hit batter. If the Cubs had won, the bullpen would have been one of the largest reasons why. </li>
</ol>
<p id="Od9KhY">And now we turn our attention to the Heroes and Goats. </p>
<p id="xcofJk"><strong>Game 13, April 15: </strong>Dodgers 2, Cubs 1 (7-6)</p>
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<cite><strong>Fangraphs</strong></cite>
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<p id="J6Wmuu">Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.</p>
<p id="55AlsC"><strong>THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="8DjfNp">
<strong>Superhero: </strong>Jameson Taillon (.282). 5IP (19 batters), 2H, 2BB, 7K</li>
<li id="PaIFAF">
<strong>Hero: </strong>Keegan Thompson (.242). 2IP (7 batters), BB, 2K</li>
<li id="da780g">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong>(tie) Mark Leiter Jr. and Patrick Wisdom (.086). Leiter: IP (4 batters), 3K, HBP; Wisdom 1-4, HR, RBI, R</li>
</ul>
<p id="ZxaR8F"><strong>THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul><li id="7yv7ZY">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong>Michael Fulmer (-.810). ⅔ IP (5 batters), 3H, 2R (L 0-1)</li></ul>
<p id="NjxkBM">*This was the largest negative WPA for a Cub since Craig Kimbrel’s -.813 on <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT201907030.shtml">July 3, 2019</a>. </p>
<ul><li id="t38KiK">
<strong>Goat/Kid: </strong>(tie) Seiya Suzuki and Eric Hosmer (-.132). Suzuki: 1-4, 3K; Hosmer 0-2</li></ul>
<p id="EWPHfa"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong>David Peralta’s two-out, two-run, game-winning single. (.764)</p>
<p id="YLj0Pi">*Cubs Play of the Game: Patrick Wisdom’s two out homer in the fifth inning broke a scoreless tie. (.158)</p>
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<p id="FDilly"><strong>Yesterday’s Winner: </strong>Justin Steele (Superhero is 9-3)</p>
<p id="4KalPy"><strong>Rizzo Award Cumulative Standings: </strong>(Top 5/Bottom 5)</p>
<p id="sDdgkN">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="d84Lr3">Marcus Stroman/Justin Steele +8</li>
<li id="RvWVUU">Ian Happ/Keegan Thompson +7</li>
<li id="mk70L3">Patrick Wisdom +3.5</li>
<li id="C2AjMG">4 tied at -3</li>
<li id="4skyyw">Cody Bellinger -4</li>
<li id="iYRA6T">Hayden Wesneski/Michael Fulmer -5</li>
<li id="VhS3pv">Yan Gomes -8</li>
</ul>
<p id="QUIsL3"><strong>Up Next: </strong>The third and final game of the series between these two clubs. Each will be looking for the series win. Lefty Drew Smyly (0-1, 6.52, 9⅔ innings) will start for the Cubs. Drew’s second start was very good. He’ll be looking to build upon that performance. On the other side of a lefty/lefty pitching matchup is Julio Urias (3-0, 1.50, 18 innings). Urias’ numbers show that he’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball in the early going. For his career, he’s made 140 appearances, 104 of them starts. He has a 52-17 record and a 2.78 ERA. Quite simply, it’s nothing new that he’s one of the best in the business. When he first reached the majors in 2016 at the age of 20, he was already dazzling. The last two-plus years, he has been phenomenal. </p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/4/16/23685220/2023-cubs-heroes-and-goats-game-13Thomas Smith2023-04-16T08:00:00-05:002023-04-16T08:00:00-05:00Dodgers 2, Cubs 1: This team needs a real closer
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<figcaption>Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>This was about to be a really nice win, until it wasn’t.</p> <p id="BBNy6R">Up until the ninth inning, this was a well-pitched game by three Cubs righthanders, Jameson Taillon, Mark Leiter Jr. and Keegan Thompson, who allowed just two Dodgers hits through eight innings, and it looked like the Cubs maybe, just maybe, could hold on for a 1-0 win.</p>
<p id="zSMH1N">Then Michael Fulmer entered to close and it all blew up, with the Dodgers posting a winning rally with three hits and two runs in the bottom of the ninth, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-dodgers/2023/04/15/718564/final/box">defeating the Cubs 2-1</a>.</p>
<p id="C1jKNX">That’s two blown saves in three opportunities for Fulmer and even though it’s still very early, maybe it’s time to give Brad Boxberger a shot at closing. Or perhaps Adbert Alzolay, which I’ve been advocating since late last year.</p>
<p id="lY77tE">Let’s rewind to the beginning of this game.</p>
<p id="NaTNCh">The outfielders who sort of “swapped sides” between these two teams over the winter swapped great outfield plays early on.</p>
<p id="YBcgL6">Jason Heyward, playing center field for the Dodgers, made t<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-04/15/7ca0f1a9-a49216f4-20b8f6cd-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">his nice grab on the very first pitch of the game hit by Nico Hoerner [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="jm9AE4">In the next inning, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-04/15/a211b7ac-7c3f4fc1-201e72d1-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Cody Bellinger stole a home run from Heyward [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="OSD1rO">Right there you see the value of defense. I can’t think of a Cubs center fielder in recent years who could have done that — no, not even Dexter Fowler. If not for Bellinger, the game would have been 2-0 Dodgers at that point. You can see why Bellinger won his Gold Glove.</p>
<p id="F5r4Ei">In the third inning, Nico Hoerner stole his eighth base of the year without being caught. It didn’t help lead to a run, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-04/15/719dced2-ec6ff1dc-eda344bd-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">but I want you to look at this video anyway [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com%2FFORGE%2F2023%2F2023-04%2F15%2F719dced2-ec6ff1dc-eda344bd-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;"></iframe></div></div>
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<p id="bvcFQi"></p>
<p id="OwigXA">Scroll in to about :10 in that clip. See that little walking/running/jumping lead Nico is taking? That’s something the Yankees started in Spring Training as a response to the “two disengagements” rule (<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F4395432%2F2023%2F04%2F11%2Fyankees-mlb-stolen-base-technique%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleedcubbieblue.com%2F2023%2F4%2F16%2F23685049%2Fcubs-dodgers-recap-patrick-wisdom-jameson-taillon-mlb-scores" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">see this article in The Athletic for details</a>). Players can do this now once the pitcher has disengaged twice, as Michael Grove had done at that point with Nico on base. That means that if Grove threw over again, he had to catch Nico off base or it’s a balk — thus Nico has a much better chance of stealing the base, which he did.</p>
<p id="bzWsoK">Patrick Wisdom gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead with <a href="https://bdata-producedclips.mlb.com/4c7e8250-599e-42fc-9bb9-4fb48a575a50.mp4">this solo homer in the fifth [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="1IIGgl"><a href="https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/888308ae-83c7-480b-9730-06ab4f4084d4.mp4">Here are the numbers on Wisdom’s blast, his fifth of the season [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="b6gwNP">Unfortunately, that turned out to be the only Cubs run.</p>
<p id="7AXKYo">Jameson Taillon was better in this game than in his previous two starts. He struggled through a 28-pitch first inning without giving up a run, then improved over the succeeding four innings. It wasn’t a great outing, but it was good enough for five scoreless innings with just two hits and two walks allowed with seven strikeouts. Look at this nasty slider:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jameson Taillon, Wicked 82mph Slider. <a href="https://t.co/DmHpb0D2yk">pic.twitter.com/DmHpb0D2yk</a></p>— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1647432968598683648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2023</a>
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<p id="SbunX9"><a href="https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/524891a8-52b2-49a6-9762-b93929f0321d.mp4">Here’s even more on Taillon’s outing [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="K9ItUH">Mark Leiter Jr. threw a scoreless seventh and he continues to be effective against lefthanded hitters. His splitter has been very effective. Check out his three strikeouts:</p>
<div id="1SFtkr">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mark Leiter Jr.'s 3Ks...all Splitters. ✌️✌️✌️ <a href="https://t.co/Uqt92SGIgx">pic.twitter.com/Uqt92SGIgx</a></p>— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1647433830758858753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2023</a>
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<p id="3wBRn6">The Cubs wasted a couple of opportunities to score more runs, first when Seiya Suzuki was caught stealing in the seventh, and then when they loaded the bases with one out in the eighth but both Ian Happ and Suzuki struck out.</p>
<p id="WnJchf">Keegan Thompson threw two scoreless innings with a walk and two strikeouts, and here’s where I have to say that Mike Muchlinski’s pitch calling was pretty much awful all night — for both teams. I think that’ll show when the <a href="https://twitter.com/umpscorecards">@UmpScorecard</a> for this game is available later this morning.</p>
<p id="Jy1bb7">And then there was Fulmer, and again, I think they’re going to have to re-think who closes games.</p>
<p id="DT2P0m">The rubber game of this series happens Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, a battle of lefthanders: Drew Smyly for the Cubs and Julio Urias for the Dodgers. Game time is 3:10 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network (and on MLB Network outside the Cubs and Dodgers market territories).</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/4/16/23685049/cubs-dodgers-recap-patrick-wisdom-jameson-taillon-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2023-04-15T21:40:00-05:002023-04-15T21:40:00-05:00Overflow thread: Cubs vs. Dodgers, Saturday 4/15, 8:10 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="0OPLhO">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/4/15/23684483/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-dodgers-saturday-4-15-8-10-ctAl Yellon2023-04-15T20:05:00-05:002023-04-15T20:05:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Dodgers, Saturday 4/15, 8:10 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="8OKWOy">Go get ‘em, Jameson.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/4/15/23684481/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-dodgers-saturday-4-15-8-10-ctAl Yellon2023-04-15T18:00:00-05:002023-04-15T18:00:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers preview, Saturday 4/15, 8:10 CT
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs go for the series win!</p> <p id="mNgveK">Saturday notes...</p>
<ul>
<li id="hRAKHZ">
<strong>JACKIE ROBINSON DAY:</strong> All players around MLB will be wearing Robinson’s No. 42 tonight in honor of the trailblazing Brooklyn Dodgers star, and the numbers will be in the style and color of the Dodgers numbers of the time. This year, MLB is also celebrating the opening last fall of the Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City. “I am thrilled to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Jackie Robinson Foundation along with the first year of our new Jackie Robinson Museum,” said Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s widow, in a statement. “I thank Major League Baseball, the teams, players and fans for celebrating this legacy on Saturday and throughout the year. On behalf of our family, I want to wish everyone a truly wonderful Jackie Robinson Day.”</li>
<li id="tBwkuZ">
<strong>MORE JACKIE ROBINSON DAY:</strong> The Cubs are 4-16 all-time on Jackie Robinson Day since its creation in 2004, including losing a doubleheader to the Yankees on that date in 2014. The last Cubs win on Jackie Robinson Day was in 2019, a <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIA/MIA201904150.shtml">7-2 win over the Marlins</a> in Miami.</li>
<li id="aQELy6"><strong>MORE JACKIE ROBINSON DAY:</strong></li>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jason Heyward takes the mic to talk to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> <a href="https://t.co/1WfF0PA7qn">pic.twitter.com/1WfF0PA7qn</a></p>— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) <a href="https://twitter.com/juanctoribio/status/1647354146901872640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2023</a>
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<ul>
<li id="v2hKfi">
<strong>ALL THOSE HOME RUNS:</strong> Last night’s game was the Cubs’ 358th at Los Angeles since the Dodgers moved there in 1958. It was the first in which the Cubs hit five home runs. They did it only once in 697 games at Brooklyn from 1890-1957, so they now have homered five times on the road against the Dodgers twice — in 1,055 total games! The game at Brooklyn was on <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO195107130.shtml">July 13, 1951</a>. The Cubs lost, 8-6, despite two homers by Randy Jackson and one each by Frank Baumholtz, Hank Sauer and Roy Smalley. The Cubs have hit five homers at home against the Dodgers twice: a 10-8 win on <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN195805302.shtml">May 30, 1958</a> and a 13-9 loss on <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN199708010.shtml">August 1, 1997</a>. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)</li>
<li id="251sur">
<strong>LOVE THAT PACE OF PLAY:</strong> Friday night’s game was completed in 2 hours, 20 minutes. The teams had played 73 previous games at Dodger Stadium since 2000. Only two were shorter: 1:59 on <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200604170.shtml">April 17, 2006</a> (Cubs won, 4-1) and 2:15 on <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN201007080.shtml">July 8, 2010</a> (Cubs lost, 3-2). The next shortest game was 2:27. Of those 73 games, nearly half (36) took three hours or more. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)</li>
</ul>
<p id="XHnlFe">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="d9YeVE">Cubs lineup:</p>
<div id="UEIhzW">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is tonight's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> starting lineup!<br><br>Tune in: <a href="https://t.co/Gs2hZXyTjH">https://t.co/Gs2hZXyTjH</a> <a href="https://t.co/4iPhgdAuLk">pic.twitter.com/4iPhgdAuLk</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1647365214713552896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2023</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="b4QJ9s">Dodgers lineup:</p>
<div id="WzsUAD">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tonight's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> lineup for Jackie Robinson Day: <a href="https://t.co/qk6y1OLF4S">pic.twitter.com/qk6y1OLF4S</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1647344907391234049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2023</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<h2 id="yEsawb">Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Michael Grove, RHP</h2>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iwPemFYsHNzBpieWwKiznZ1gdzE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24582311/usa_today_20401644.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/pDR-IOXLYApah8tyqcc7EKzL5Qk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24582312/usa_today_20435339.jpg">
<cite>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="47DXIE">Jameson Taillon has had a rough go of it in two starts so far with the Cubs, with ugly numbers. The last one, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202304090.shtml">last Sunday against the Rangers</a>, wasn’t as bad as it appeared, in my view, and he did strike out seven.</p>
<p id="Db0vBu">He hasn’t faced the Dodgers since 2018, so nothing relevant there. </p>
<p id="AzWL3V">Of all people, the current Dodger who has hit him best is... Jason Heyward (8-for-20, .400, a double, two walks).</p>
<p id="tKsusL">Michael Grove had a good outing against the Rockies and then got absolutely torched by the Diamondbacks (12 hits and nine runs and didn’t finish the fourth inning).</p>
<p id="bjFGIu">Grove is making his 10th MLB appearance (ninth start) tonight. Grove was the Dodgers’ second-round Draft selection in 2018 (the same round the Cubs took Brennen Davis, six picks earlier). He has never faced the Cubs or anyone on the Cubs’ active roster. Sometimes that works for the pitcher, other times not. “As always, we await developments.”</p>
<p id="OIYg5E"></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9tgzVotg8SbSaDaIxoWTMhz1r0I=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24583283/Screen_Shot_2023_04_13_at_1.37.17_PM.png">
<cite><a class="ql-link" href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/pitchmix#592791_2023" target="_blank">Statcast</a></cite>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_4XY1WdWALBbkcqhMGH8qL_LqYs=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24583279/Screen_Shot_2023_04_13_at_1.36.22_PM.png">
<cite><a class="ql-link" href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/pitchmix#675627_2023" target="_blank">Statcast</a></cite>
</figure>
<p id="AkDNhJ">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="YpIefk"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2023/04/15">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p id="49NWKi"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2023_04_15_chnmlb_lanmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="1mY3t5"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2023/LAN202304150.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="aj8DqM">Please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">True Blue LA</a>. If you do go there to interact with Dodgers 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 2023 Game Thread procedure will be like last year’s, 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="9g9Jqo">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/4/15/23681561/chicago-cubs-los-angeles-dodgers-preview-saturdayAl Yellon