Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Series Thread (Games 25-27): Apr 23-25 @ Cubs

This is Chicago. It's our 25th game. I predict a 6 to 4 victory.

Tue 4/23 5p: Kenta Maeda vs. Jose Quintana
Wed 4/24 5p: Walker Buehler vs. Cole Hamels
Thu 4/25 11.30a: Ross Stripling vs. TBD

Somehow, the Cubs are 10-10, and we have played four more games than they have this year. Some desk research reveals that, unlike the Cubs' cushy schedule so far (with four days off and one postponed game vs. the Angels), the Dodgers have been forced to keep their nose to the grindstone, and they've responded by mashing all the way. Taking three of four in Milwaukee this past weekend (including an incredible Cody Bellinger performance Sunday!), the Dodgers are now six games above .500--and this includes that six-game losing streak when we couldn't get anything right. Imagine if we had just gone .500 over those six games; we'd be 18-6!

I don't recall Wrigley Field being "friendly confines" for the Dodgers (we went 1-2 last year there, including a walk-off, tenth-inning loss). The Cubs have won seven of nine, keeping pace with our winning seven of our last eight. And we haven't fared well against NL Central teams. This series should be a dogfight. So let's get some inspiration, please (note Russell Martin is in the house for this clip!):

11 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Kenta had a 0-2 count with two outs and the bases juiced, and gave up a bases-clearing double. Dammit. 3-0 Cubs and we are not out of the first.

Steve Sax said...

6-0, B2.

Not watching this one

QuadSevens said...

Cubs win. I hope that W flag gets cut up.

Steve Sax said...

Well, that first one didn’t go well

Steve Sax said...

Game 2

Kike 2B
JT 3B
Freese 1B
Seager SS
Pollock CF
Belli RF
CT3 LF
Barnes C
Buehler P

No Joc. No Max.

QuadSevens said...

Bellinger with a 2 run blast to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead in the sixth. Now in the eighth, we’re down 7-3.

QuadSevens said...

Verdugo hit a 3 run bomb to center to make it 7-6 in the eighth. That was the end of our offense. Cubbies win. Crap!

Steve Sax said...

Wow these have not been good games here.

Steve Sax said...

attempt #3 for a win

Hernandez 2B
Turner 3B
Freese 1B
Bellinger RF
Pollock CF
Verdugo LF
Taylor SS
Gale C
Chicken Strips P

No Joc again. No Seager or Barnes, either.

QuadSevens said...

Dodgers up 2-0 going to the ninth!

QuadSevens said...

Kenley gives up a solo HR, but he held on for the save. Dodgers win!