Wednesday notes…
STREAKING: The Cubs are 15-4 in their last 19 games. Since 2000, they have been better only in seven spans of 16-3: two that overlapped in 2015 and five, four overlapping, in 2016. They were last 15-4 from July 18-Aug. 6, 2023. They also had 15-4 spans Sept. 12-Oct. 2, 2022, and May 14-June 2, 2021. The 2016 Cubs had two overlapping spans of 17-3. The Cubs have not had a 16-4 span since they had four that overlapped between April 11 and May 19, 2019. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
SCORING (AND NOT ALLOWING) RUNS: The Cubs’ run differential of +102 is their highest in six seasons. In 2023, they peaked at +101 before finishing at +96. In 2019, they were +106 after their next-to-last game, then lost their finale, 9-0, to finish at +97. Their peak in 2019 was +118, after 150 games. They went 2-10 the rest of the way. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
THE BUSCH LEAGUE: Michael Busch, last 13 games since May 18: .389/.476/.750 (14-for-36) with three doubles, two triples, two home runs, 12 RBI, six walks and six runs scored.
WHAT A RELIEF: In the last 17 games since May 14, the Cubs bullpen has posted a 0.83 ERA (six earned runs in 65⅓ innings), the lowest mark in the majors in that span. During this stretch, the bullpen has held opponents scoreless in 12 of the 17 games.
Here are today’s particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Kyle Tucker gets another day of resting the finger injury.
Nationals lineup:
Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. MacKenzie Gore, LHP
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Matthew Boyd had a few ordinary starts and one struggle (against the Reds), then threw six shutout innings vs. the Rockies last Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
He has faced the Nationals just once in his career, two years ago when he was with the Tigers. No current Nats player has more than eight at-bats against him (Josh Bell, 4-for-8).
The Nats are 6-8 vs. LH starters this year.
MacKenzie Gore is having the best year of his career, with a 3.16 ERA in 12 starts. He’s also leading all of MLB in strikeouts with 101 in 68⅓ innings, and also leads in K/9 rate at 13.3. He also has a good walk number, just 21. So the Cubs should look to put the ball in play, if they can.
Which might not be so easy. Gore held the Cubs to one hit in seven innings Sept. 21, 2024 at Wrigley Field, and the one hit was a solo homer by someone who isn’t on the team anymore, Patrick Wisdom.
This should be a really good pitching matchup.
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 Nationals site Federal Baseball. If you do go there to interact with Nationals 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.