Game Fifty-Five: Cubs (29-25) vs. Nationals (30-26)
- Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 187, 844
- Location – Nationals Park, Washington DC
Kyle Hendricks (1-2, 3.99/1.18/3.46) vs. Jordan Zimmermann (5-2, 2.88/1.22/3.12)
The Cubs four-day stay in the Nation’s Capital comes to an end this afternoon with the last of four with the first place Nationals. The Cubs have a shot of leaving DC with a series win after taking two of the first three. But in order to have a happy flight to Detroit, the Cubs will have to put runs on the board against Jordan Zimmermann while Kyle Hendricks looks to repeat his last start against Bryce Harper and company.
Today is also the final game of the regular season between the Cubs and Nationals. After six games, the season series is all tied at three … the Cubs have scored 15 runs while allowing 17 runs to the high-powered Nationals.
This afternoon is a rematch of the game back on May 26 that Kris Bryant tied in the eighth when he dented the new scoreboard and Addison Russell won in the ninth with a walk-off double. Kyle Hendricks and Jordan Zimmermann were both very good that night at Wrigley.
With the early start on Saturday and the late first pitch on getaway day, the Cubs received a rare 24-hour break in between the end of one day game and the start of the next.
The Cubs have not played good ball on Sundays this season (3-6) and will have to step it up in order to win three of four at Nationals Park.
This afternoon all begins with Kyle Hendricks …
Kyle Hendricks is coming off a better outing in Miami than his final line indicates. Hendricks threw the ball well for the most part. He made two mistakes that cost him four runs and eventually the Cubs the game. After a rather rough April and first half of May, Hendricks has pitched with more confidence his last three times out. With that said, Hendricks could really use a performance today similar to the one he put together against the Nationals at Wrigley on May 26.
Hendricks gave up a Bryce Harper homer to the Nationals in the seventh inning and that was it against the highest scoring offense in the National League at the time. Hendricks allowed just four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Today is Hendricks second career start against the Nationals. Hendricks is 1-1 in six road starts this season with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. It will be interesting to see which side makes the right adjustments … Kyle Hendricks or the Nationals’ offense that now includes Anthony Rendon.
Nationals Career Numbers against Kyle Hendricks
- Ian Desmond: 1-for-3 with one double
- Yunel Escobar: 0-for-1 with one walk
- Bryce Harper: 1-for-3 with one home run
- Tyler Moore: 1-for-2 with one walk
- Wilson Ramos: 0-for-3
- Denard Span: 1-for-3
- Ryan Zimmerman: 0-for-3
- Danny Espinosa: 0-for-2
- Jordan Zimmermann: 0-for-1
The Cubs’ brass gets another first-hand look at Jordan Zimmermann today. Zimmermann is going to be very high on the front office’s off-season wish list, along with David Price.
Jordan Zimmermann shut down the Blue Jays for eight innings following his sensational outing at Wrigley on May 26. Zimmermann tossed eight innings of shutout ball while allowing six hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Since May 15, Zimmermann has allowed a grand total of three earned runs on 23 hits with six walks and 22 strikeouts.
Jordan Zimmermann is 3-1 in six starts at Nationals Park this season with a 2.01 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP … and today is his ninth career start against the Cubs. Zimmermann is 1-4 in the first eight with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Jordan Zimmermann
- Starlin Castro: 4-for-22 with one double and one triple
- Miguel Montero: 7-for-19 with three doubles and two walks
- Chris Coghlan: 4-for-19
- Dexter Fowler: 3-for-17 with one home run and three walks
- Anthony Rizzo: 4-for-10 with one double, one home run and two walks
- Jonathan Herrera: 0-for-6
- Mike Baxter: 0-for-4
- Junior Lake: 2-for-4 with two doubles
- Kris Bryant: 0-for-3
- Addison Russell: 2-for-3 with one double
- Kyle Hendricks: 0-for-1 with one walk
- David Ross: 1-for-1 with one walk
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …