Game Two: Cubs (0-1) vs. Cardinals (1-0)
- Game Time – 1:20pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: ABC-7, MLB Network – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 183, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jake Arrieta (0-0, -.–/-.–/-.–) vs. Lance Lynn (0-0, -.–/-.–/-.–)
Weather permitting … The Cubs resume the season today and will wrap-up what is now a two-game series with the Cardinals behind Jake Arrieta. And once again runs figure to be at a premium. If the weather cooperates and it doesn’t rain (20% chance) is going to be cold, high 40’s and cloudy at first pitch.
The Cubs will shoot for the first win of the year today. Playing small ball and to the elements will help. Get ‘em, get ‘em over and get ‘em in … and put an end to the hitless streak with runners in scoring position.
Wrigley Field is ready to ‘go’ after a rough Opening Night and both the Cubs and the city said the restroom problems had nothing to do with Tuesday’s postponement. A malfunction occurred in the skybox restrooms which affected the operation and use of the upper deck restrooms according to Jon Paul Morosi. The city is working with the team to prevent further issues during construction.
Cubs’ baseball makes its debut on ABC-7 this afternoon, the first of 24 telecasts scheduled for this season.
Today all starts with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta is coming off a breakout season and is looking to build on what he did last year. Arrieta was 10-5 in 25 starts with a 2.53 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP and a 2.26 FIP. Arrieta allowed 114 hits with 41 walks and 167 strikeouts. The Cubs are looking to get Arrieta to complete around 180 innings this season.
Arrieta threw strikes and a lot of them last season with consistent mechanics. This spring, he showed signs of the pitcher he was a year ago but struggled with his mechanics from time-to-time and that led to deep counts and walks. For the Cubs to reach their goal this season, Arrieta has to pitch as a top of the rotation starter.
Jake Arrieta was very, very good at Wrigley last year (6-1 in 12 starts with a 1.46 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP) and has posted a 9-2 record in 18 starts with a 2.04 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP in his home park since the trade that brought him to the Cubs.
Arrieta faced the Cardinals four times last season and was 1-0 with a 1.21 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Arrieta allowed four runs, three earned, on 15 hits with nine walks and 28 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings. In five career starts versus the Redbirds, Arrieta is 2-0 with a 0.92 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP.
Cardinals Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Jhonny Peralta: 5-for-16 with two doubles and one walk
- Matt Carpenter: 0-for-11 with four walks
- Matt Adams: 5-for-11 with one double
- Peter Bourjos: 1-for-7 with one double and two walks
- Kolten Wong: 2-for-9
- Jon Jay: 0-for-6 with one walk
- Yadier Molina: 2-for-7
- Jason Heyward: 2-for-6 with one double
- Mark Reynolds: 1-for-3 with one home run
Lance Lynn quietly put together a very good season for the Cardinals last year. Lynn was 15-10 in 33 starts with a 2.74 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP and a 3.35 FIP. Lynn allowed 185 hits with 72 walks and 181 strikeouts in 203 2/3 innings.
The Cardinals rewarded Lynn’s consistency with a three-year, $22 million contract in January.
Outside of St. Louis last year, Lynn was 6-6 in 15 starts with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP and he makes his sixth career start at Wrigley tonight.
Lance Lynn has had a lot of success against the Cubs over the years. Lynn is 6-3 in 11 games, 10 starts, with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, last season Lynn faced the Cubs once and allowed two runs on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts in six innings. At Wrigley Field, Lynn is 2-2 in five starts with a 5.04 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP (17 runs on 33 hits with 10 walks and 25 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings).
Cubs Career Numbers against Lance Lynn
- Starlin Castro: 10-for-30 with two doubles and one triple
- Anthony Rizzo: 5-for-22 with one home run and two walks
- Miguel Montero: 0-for-7 with three walks
- Welington Castillo: 4-for-6 with one home run and one walk
- Dexter Fowler: 2-for-4 with two walks
- David Ross: 1-for-6 with one double
- Travis Wood: 0-for-6
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …