Game Thirty-Two: Cubs (16-15) vs. Mets (20-12)
- Game Time – 7:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN-TV Ch. 9, MLB Network – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 89, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jake Arrieta (3-3, 3.41/1.16/2.53) vs. Noah Syndergaard (0-0, -.–/-.–/-.–)
Joe Maddon hands the ball to Jake Arrieta tonight in search of a second straight victory over the Mets. Nationally, all eyes will be on RHP Noah Syndergaard as he makes his big league debut. But for the Cubs, the focus will be on Jake Arrieta as he looks to rebound from two bad starts and an inconsistent beginning to his season.
The Mets have the ‘Dark Knight’ in Matt Harvey, and the Cubs will see him Wednesday night. One of the most talented right handers in minor league ball takes the hill tonight for the Metropolitans and Noah Syndergaard has already been nicknamed ‘Thor.’
It’s imperative the Cubs do not allow Syndergaard to get comfortable tonight. Making him work early should lead to runs on what is expected to be a pitcher’s night at Wrigley Field. It will be interesting to see how much the reports the front office has on Syndergaard benefits the offense.
The Cubs defense must pick-up where it left off in the late innings Monday. Extra opportunities have really cost the Cubs this season and the Mets were the latest team to take advantage of the shaky defense.
Tonight all starts with Jake Arrieta …
The Cubs need for Jake Arrieta to get back on track tonight against the Mets. Arrieta has not been good his last two times out. After a dud against the Brewers in which he allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings, Arrieta labored through 5 1/3 innings in St. Louis. Arrieta gave up five runs, four earned, on nine hits.
In his last two starts, Jake Arrieta is 0-2 with a 6.97 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. The Brewers and Cardinals scored nine runs, eight earned, on 16 hits with two walks and 13 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.
The Cubs will not reach the goal for the season unless Jake Arrieta is able to pitch closer to the way he did in April.
Jake Arrieta makes his fourth career start against the Mets tonight. Arrieta is 0-1 in the first three with a 2.41 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Last season, Arrieta faced the Mets twice, received two no decisions and allowed one run on nine hits with five walks and 11 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings.
Mets Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Curtis Granderson: 9-for-25 with one double, one triple, three home runs and one walk
- Lucas Duda: 3-for-6 with three walks
- Michael Cuddyer: 2-for-6
- Juan Lagares: 0-for-3
- Kirk Nieuwenhuis: 1-for-3
- Wilmer Flores: 1-for-2
- John Mayberry Jr.: 0-for-2
- Anthony Recker: 0-for-2
- Ruben Tejada: 1-for-2
Noah Syndergaard makes his Major League debut tonight. The 22-year old right hander has been very good at the Triple-A level this season. In five starts for Las Vegas, Syndergaard was 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP (seven runs, six earned, on 20 hits with eight walks and 34 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings).
Syndergaard is one of the top pitching prospects in the game. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and can reach the upper-90s (98 mph) when he needs it. Syndergaard also features a mid-70s curveball and a high-80s change-up.
The Cubs should have plenty of tape on Syndergaard to share. The Cubs reportedly scouted Syndergaard extensively at the end of last season just in case he was part of the trade discussions during the winter.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …