Game Seventy-Six: Cubs (40-35) vs. Mets (40-38)
- Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN-TV Ch. 9 – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 184, 844
- Location – Citi Field, Flushing
Jon Lester (4-6, 4.03/1.37/3.56) vs. Bartolo Colon (9-6, 4.89/1.25/3.88)
The Cubs will shoot for two wins in a row over the Mets tonight behind Jon Lester. The Cubs finished June with a 14-13 record and have posted three straight months of at least a .500 record for the first time since 2008. The Cubs were 12-8 in April and 14-14 in May. A victory today would start July off on the right foot and give the Cubs a shot at a .500 road trip.
While the Cubs offense must get it going, it will not get any easier for the struggling lineup with Bartolo Colon on the hill. The veteran right hander has had issues this year but still knows how to pitch. The Cubs have not fared very well with pitchers like Colon this season despite other teams’ recent success. David Ross will be behind the plate with Lester on the hill as he looks to start the new month with a win at Citi Field.
Tonight all starts with Jon Lester …
After two solid starts against the Reds and Twins, Jon Lester really struggled against the Dodgers. Lester was pulled after four innings because Maddon saw a way to put runs on the board. Maddon’s gamble didn’t exactly pay off. Miguel Montero delivered a single hitting for Lester but Chris Coghlan was thrown out at the plate.
Jon Lester said he learned from his last outing that pitching in the National League and giving up runs early could force his manager to cut his start short. Maybe Lester will have more of a sense of urgency moving forward.
Jon Lester is 0-3 in his last five starts with a 5.74 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. And Lester is 1-2 in six starts outside of Wrigley Field this year with a 4.54 ERA and 1.37 WHIP.
Tonight is the third career start for Lester against the Mets. Lester is 2-0 in the first two with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Lester beat the Mets back on May 11 at Wrigley after surrendering three runs on five hits in six innings. Lester walked four and struck out six batters. Jon Lester takes the mound at Citi Field for the first time today.
Mets Career Numbers against Jon Lester
- Curtis Granderson: 11-for-40 with two doubles, one triple, two home runs and three walks
- Michael Cuddyer: 5-for-19 with two doubles and one walk
- John Mayberry Jr.: 2-for-6
- Lucas Duda: 2-for-3 with one home run
- Wilmer Flores: 1-for-2 with one home run and one walk
- Juan Lagares: 0-for-2 with one walk
- Ruben Tejada: 0-for-1
Bartolo Colon has struggled this season for Terry Collins. Colon is coming off a loss in Milwaukee in which he allowed four runs on 10 hits with a walk and three strikeouts in six innings. Colon has five quality starts in his last 10 games. And over his last four starts, Colon is 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.
Bartolo Colon has been about the same pitcher at home as he’s been on the road this season. Colon is 6-2 in eight starts at Citi Field with a 4.78 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
For his career, Bartolo Colon is 0-2 in five starts against the Cubs with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. The Cubs missed Colon last season. Colon lost to the Cubs on July 3, 2013 at Wrigley. The Cubs topped the A’s 3-1 and Colon gave up two runs on nine hits in seven innings.
Cubs Career Numbers against Bartolo Colon
- Starlin Castro: 2-for-3 with one walk
- Anthony Rizzo: 0-for-3
- David Ross: 0-for-1
- Chris Denorfia: 0-for-1
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …