Sunday notes…
WINS AND LOSSES: In their last 10 losses, the Cubs have allowed 73 runs. They gave up two runs in two of the losses and at least seven in the eight others: seven, twice; eight, four times; nine, once; and 14, once. The Cubs scored 39 runs in the losses. In all 36 losses, the Cubs have been outscored, 222-103, an average of 6.17 to 2.86. In their 53 wins, they have outscored their opponents, 378-144 — 7.13 to 2.72. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE: This is the 18th of the Cubs’ 30 series this year in which they have split the first two games. They are 8-8 in third games of those series but 5-8 in third games that completed series; they won three that were the third of four. They also split one two-game series. At home, the Cubs are just 2-7 in third games after a split, and one of the wins was the third of four games. The lone rubber-game win was against the Reds, on June 1. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
SUNDAY, NOT FUNDAY: Cubs record on Sundays: 5-9. Cubs record on all other days: 48-27.
UNDER THE RADAR: Carson Kelly, last 11 games since June 21: .406/.474/.750 (13-for-32) with five doubles, two home runs, five walks, six RBI and six runs scored.
Here are today’s particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Cardinals lineup:
Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. Erick Fedde, RHP
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Matthew Boyd has been the Cubs’ most consistent starter all year. It might result in an All-Star selection later today.
Boyd threw six shutout innings against the Cardinals June 25 in St. Louis, allowing three hits, no walks and striking out three. He has not allowed more than two runs in any of his last seven starts and in that span has a 1.99 ERA and 0.785 WHIP in 43⅓ innings.
Keep up the great work, Matthew.
The Cubs scored seven runs off Erick Fedde in that June 25 game, including home runs by Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Reese McGuire.
Then Fedde went out and allowed seven again to the Pirates June 30 in Pittsburgh.
I’m sure you would have no problem with Fedde giving up a lucky seven again this evening.
Today’s game is on ESPN.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Cardinals site Viva el Birdos. If you do go there to interact with Cardinals 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.