Today’s roster move: Here
Monday notes…
RUN DIFFERENTIAL: The Cubs’ run differential stands at a season-high +70, 270 runs scored to 200 allowed. Their previous high was +69 after a 9-2 win at home over the Giants on May 5. The Cubs reached +70 only once all of last year, after a 3-0 win at home over the Reds on Sept. 28, the next-to-last day of the season. They lost the finale, 3-0, in 10 innings, to finish at +67. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
WHAT A RELIEF, PART 1: Daniel Palencia, last 10 appearances since April 23: 0.00 ERA, 0.774 WHIP, 12 strikeouts in 10⅓ innings, .114 opponents BA (4-for-35).
WHAT A RELIEF, PART 2: Brad Keller, last 11 appearances since April 25: 0.00 ERA, 0.649 WHIP, 12 strikeouts in 12⅓ innings, .150 opponents BA (6-for-40).
WHAT A RELIEF, PART 3: Drew Pomeranz has not allowed a run in his 10 appearances as a Cub, for an ERA of 0.00. He also has a WHIP of 0.536, 10 strikeouts in 9⅓ innings, an opponents BA of .100 (3-for-30), and Sunday he posted his first MLB win since Aug. 7, 2021, when he pitched in relief of… Yu Darvish.
Here are today’s particulars.
The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.
Marlins lineup:
Ben Brown, RHP vs. Edward Cabrera, RHP
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Quietly, Ben Brown is starting to pile up good outings. In three starts in May he has a 2.76 ERA and 1.041 WHIP, with 19 strikeouts and only two walks in 16⅓ innings. That’ll play, for sure.
Last Tuesday against the Marlins, Brown threw 5⅓ innings, allowed five hits and two runs, didn’t walk a batter and struck out six. Another one just like that, please.
Still wish Brown would develop a third pitch.
Edward Cabrera throws hard, as you can see by the chart below, though, oddly, his changeup is what he’s thrown more often than any other pitch this year. Often he doesn’t have control or command, as shown by his fairly high walk rate. The Cubs are a patient hitting team, so hopefully they can make that work to their advantage. Cabrera has, though, walked only one in each of his last two starts.
The last time he faced the Cubs was April 21, 2024 at Wrigley Field, where he allowed three runs in five innings.
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 the Marlins site Fish On First. If you do go there to interact with Marlins 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.