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You may recall that the prior series against the Cubs was the low point of the first half of the season, a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field that came right after a dismantling of the Phillies. Here's hoping - especially after these last three disasters against the Nationals - that the Cubs aren't also the low point of the second half. Losing three games to a first place team like the Nationals is annoying. Losing games to the last place (52-68) Cubs is worse.
Pitching Matchups:
Friday: Travis Wood (L) v. Wheeler
Wood walked five and hit a batter in five innings of work against the Mets in June this year. They scored a couple of runs but lost the game in what was one of DeGrom's few poor starts this year. He leads the Cubs in innings pitched but with a 4.86 ERA and 1.525 WHIP, that's not exactly the best thing. The walks aren't unusual for Travis; he's given up 61 in 139 innings this year.
Saturday: Dan Straily (R) v. Niese
Straily (fourth in AL Rookie of the Year balloting last year) was acquired from Oakland in the Jeff Samardzja trade. He had seven starts in the majors for Oakland but has been in Des Moines since being acquired by the Cubs and pitched well there.
Sunday: Jake Arrieta (R) v. Montero
Arrieta pitched against the Mets in June and was pulled in the middle of the fifth inning due to a high pitch count and - but the Mets couldn't cash any runs in and lost the game 2-1.
Overall, Arrieta's had a very good season, with a 2.77 and 1.051 WHIP in 18 starts.
Monday: Kyle Hendricks (R) v. Colon (12:10 EDT start)
Hendricks was the prospect acquired when the Cubs traded Ryan Dempster to the Rangers at the 2012 trade deadline. He's 24 and made his debut earlier this year. This is his seventh start and he has impressed so far: 4-1, 1.73 ERA and 1.008 WHIP in 41 2/3 innings. 26 strikeouts and only 9 walks. Henricks is a change of pace pitcher with a slow curve and the changeup is his big out pitch.
Cubs Lineup:
C - Wellington Castillo (R)
Not hitting much (.675 OPS). Solid defensive catcher.
1B - Anthony Rizzo (L)
Made the all-star team this year. 27 homers, .884 OPS. Nice equal splits against lefties (.939 OPS) and righties (.863 OPS). Future cornerstone-of-the-franchise type of player at age 24 in his third season with the Cubs.
2B - Javier Baez (R)
Was ranked the #5 prospect in baseball before this season. Baez was the Cubs' first-round pick in 2011 is 21 and made his major league debut on August 5. He had 23 homers at AAA and already has 4 homers in the majors. Baez's natural position is shortstop but he is blocked there (for now, at least) by Castro.
3B - Luis Valbuena (L)
Journeyman infielder, putting up a .736 OPS this year which would be a career high.
You may recall that we saw Mike Olt at third for the Cubs back in June. Olt was a first-round pick of the Rangers in 2010 and was acquired when the Cubs traded Matt Garza. Olt got 200 plate appearances in the majors but only hit .139. 12 of his 26 Cub hits were homers. He's got a 1.009 OPS in AAA.
SS - Starlin Castro (R)
Starlin was also an all-star, his third selection, at age 25. This is his fifth full season in the majors already. He's improved over a miserable 2014 and has a .764 OPS this year. His defense is not great and (particularly) if Baez plays well for the remainer of the season, expect to hear talk of trading Castro (who is signed through 2020 on a reasonable contract).
LF - Chris Coghlan (L)
You may remember him and his 2009 rookie of the year season with the Marlins. He hasn't played a full season in the majors since, but he has put up a respectable .848 OPS in 235 ABs since getting called back up.
CF - Arismendy Alcantara (S)
22 years old and made his major league debut a month ago. Plenty of speed and a good defender. Was hitting plenty in AAA but hasn't done much in his 140 major league PAs.
RF - Justin Ruggiano (R)
A fourth or fifth outfielder on most teams. Hits a little but without power. Playing over fourth/fifth outfielder Nate Schierhotlz (R), who was hitting less (.541 OPS).
Bullpen:
Closer Hector Rondon (R) was a Rule 5 draft pick from the Indians two years ago. He's got 16 saves but only a 3.30 ERA and 1.252 WHIP.
Justin Grimm (R) also came from Texas for Matt Garza. He's leading the Cub relievers in innings pitched (52.2) but not very effectively (-0.1 WAR).
Wesley Wright (L) is a situational lefty (45 games but only 35 2/3 innings pitched).
Setup man Brian Schlitter (R) is on the DL, as is Felix Doubrount (L) who was acquired from the Red Sox before the trading deadline.
Ex-Mets:
None
Ex-Cubs:
Recker
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