Saturday notes…
WHERE DID ALL THE RUNS GO?: In their first 60 games, the Cubs scored an average of 5.82 runs per game. In their last 10, they have averaged 3.10 — and 21 of their 31 came in just three games, with a total of 10 in the remaining seven: 0, 1, 0, 3, 2, 3 and 1.The Cubs batted .298 with runners in scoring position in those first 60 games. In the last 10, they are batting .164, with only 11 hits in 67 at bats and as many as two hits in just one game. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
SEIYA SOON: Seiya Suzuki is on a five-game hitting streak in which he is batting .318 (7-for-22) with a home run and a stolen base.
RELIEF UPDATE: Daniel Palencia, last nine games since May 21: 0.96 ERA (one earned run in 9⅓ innings), 0.964 WHIP, 10 strikeouts.
THIS DAY IN CUBS HISTORY: On June 14, 1947, the Cubs defeat the Phillies 6-3 at Wrigley Field and move into first place in the NL with a 29-21 record. They would fall out of first the next day and would not be in first place again this late into the season until 1963.
Here are today’s particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Pirates lineup:
Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. Mike Burrows, RHP
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Matthew Boyd has been the Cubs’ most consistent starter all year.
If you are concerned after that missed pickoff throw Monday, here’s a Tribune article that details how Boyd developed his pickoff throw and how it’s worked for him. Monday was a rare miscue.
Boyd threw five innings and allowed the Pirates two runs April 30 at PNC Park, the only game the Cubs lost in that series.
Mike Burrows is making his sixth MLB appearance today (fifth start). A couple of the starts have been good, the others, not so much. He’s walked seven in 17 innings so far this year. He’s never faced the Cubs or anyone on the Cubs active roster.
That’s all I’ve got on Burrows. Hopefully the Cubs have a good scouting report.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. You can find out if Marquee is available via a provider in your area here.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Piratees site Bucs Dugout. 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.
The 2025 Game Thread procedure will be identical to last year’s.
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).
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.
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 this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.
Discuss amongst yourselves.