Monday notes…
RISPy BUSINESS: The Cubs made only two hits with runners in scoring position in their three games at Detroit. Their previous low in a three-game series this year was four, at San Diego. They had five at New York vs. the Mets, six at home vs. the Marlins and Rockies, and seven at home vs. the Giants and Phillies and at Pittsburgh. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
ROAD WARRIORS: Even with Sunday’s loss, the Cubs retain the best road record in MLB at 20-14. Only one other team to date has won 20 road games — the Tigers, who are 20-15 away from Comerica Park.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Cubs were shut out Sunday in Detroit. In games that follow a game where they scored one or fewer runs, the Cubs have bounced back to hold a 7-2 record and have scored an average of 7.67 runs (69 runs in nine games).
PCA! PCA!: Pete Crow-Armstrong has 27 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 50 stolen bases in 201 games in his major league career. PCA is the third player in major league history with 25/100/50 (HR/RBI/SB) in his first 200 games in the major leagues, joining Mike Trout (37 HR/110 RBI/56 SB) and Mitchell Page (27/103/52). (Courtesy Elias Sports Bureau)
Here are today’s particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Phillies lineup:
Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. Zack Wheeler, RHP
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
After a few struggles, Matthew Boyd had an outstanding start last Wednesday in Washington.
Boyd’s only career start vs. the Phillies was almost six years ago, so that’s largely irrelevant. The only Phillie who has more than a handful of at-bats against him is Max Kepler, who is 2-for-20 with seven strikeouts.
The Phillies have struggled against LH starters — they’re 8-12 against them — though overall their OPS vs. LH pitchers and RH pitchers is pretty much the same.
Hopefully Boyd can take care of them tonight.
Zack Wheeler got lit up by the Braves in his last start, May 29 at Philadelphia. That’s 11 days ago, and the reason he missed a start wasn’t injury — he was on the paternity list. Congratulations to the Wheelers, and let’s hope the Cubs can give him gifts of many hits and runs.
Wheeler has not faced the Cubs this year. The last time he faced them, July 3, 2024 at Wrigley Field, he allowed two runs in five innings. Both those runs were driven in by doubles by Pete Crow-Armstrong.
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
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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.