Game Ninety-Six: Cubs (51-44) vs. Phillies (35-63)
- Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: ABC-7 – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 183, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jake Arrieta (11-5, 2.53/0.98/2.53) vs. Cole Hamels (5-7, 3.91/1.25/3.37)
Joe Maddon hands the ball to Jake Arrieta and it’s up to Arrieta to keep the Phillies off the board while the offense tries to get on track against Cole Hamels.
Despite the media trying to make a story out of something that just is not there, Cole Hamels is one of the top starters in baseball. And the Cubs are facing the lefty at the wrong time. Coming off two really poor starts Hamels will be out to prove a point today. Not to improve any trade value for his soon-to-be former team but just to change the narrative.
Today is an anniversary for Hamels in what could be his final start with the Phillies. Three years ago today, Hamels signed the six-year contract that guaranteed him $144 million.
David Ross is expected to be in the starting lineup this afternoon and with the lefty on the hill, Chris Denorfia will be in left field, but based on the career number Chris Coghlan should be part of the starting nine. And Dexter Fowler will be able to hit from the right side for at least three at bats.
It is time for the Cubs to take a breath, lay off the breaking balls, have fun and beat a very good pitcher that could be their teammate in the not too distant future.
This afternoon all starts with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta was lights out in Atlanta his last time out. Arrieta tied a season-high with 10 strikeouts and kept rolling against the Braves on a very hot late-Sunday afternoon. Arrieta allowed just three hits with three walks over seven innings.
Arrieta is 4-0 in his last four starts with a 1.17 ERA and 0.72 WHIP. Arrieta has allowed four runs on 17 hits with five walks and 30 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings.
In nine starts at Wrigley this year, Arrieta is 4-4 with a 2.93 ERA and 0.99 WHIP (20 runs on 45 hits with 16 walks and 59 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings) … and in his 27 starts at the old ballyard, Arrieta is 13-6 with a 2.35 ERA and 0.91 WHIP.
Jake Arrieta makes his fourth career start against the Phillies today. Arrieta is 2-1 in the first three with a 5.09 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Arrieta missed Philly a year ago. Arrieta last faced the Phillies on Sept. 1, 2013. Arrieta and the Cubs won the game 7-1 after he gave up one run on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Phillies Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Jeff Francoeur: 1-for-6 with one home run
- Andres Blanco: 1-for-5
- Carlos Ruiz: 1-for-5
- Cody Asche: 0-for-3
- Domonic Brown: 1-for-3 with one double
- Ryan Howard: 0-for-3
- Darin Ruff: 1-for-2 with one home run
- Ben Revere: 0-for-1
The players will get their first look at a starting pitcher the front office has been targeting for well over a year. Cole Hamels will take the hill at Wrigley today in need of an excellent start in order to quiet his critics. Hamels’ value has not decreased by his last two outings, but he has to be tired of hearing about it.
Hamels has not been good and is coming off two of the worst starts of his career. Hamels is 0-1 in his last three starts with a 9.45 ERA and 2.10 WHIP.
Outside of Philadelphia, Hamels is 3-5 in 10 starts with a 4.74 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. Hamels owns a 3-1 record in seven career starts against the Cubs with a 2.40 ERA and 1.04 WHIP … and at Wrigley, Hamels is 1-1 in four starts with a 3.00 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. The Cubs did not see Hamels last season. Cole Hamels faces the Cubs for the first time in two years.
Cubs Career Numbers against Cole Hamels
- Chris Coghlan: 9-for-26 with two doubles, one triple, two home runs and four walks
- Dexter Fowler: 4-for-22 with one walk
- Chris Denorfia: 5-for-20 with one double, one home run and one walk
- David Ross: 1-for-11 with two walks
- Starlin Castro: 3-for-6 with one double
- Jonathan Herrera: 0-for-1
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …