Game One Hundred Nineteen: Cubs (67-51) vs. Braves (53-67)
- Game Time – 7:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 185, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jake Arrieta (14-6, 2.39/0.99/2.67) vs. Mike Foltynewicz (4-4, 5.61/1.62/5.00)
The homestand continues tonight with the first of four against the Braves. The Cubs turn to Jake Arrieta to snap the three-game skid. And Joe Maddon could really use more than just a quality start from Arrieta.
The Cubs are not expected to make any changes to the roster to bring in relief help prior to the game. Clayton Richard and James Russell will not be available but the rest of the pen is in good shape. With Kyle Hendricks, Dan Haren and Jason Hammel scheduled for the next three days, the longer the outing from Arrieta tonight the better off the bullpen will be for the weekend.
A lot has changed for the Braves since the Cubs won two of three in Atlanta out of the All-Star break. Freddie Freeman is back from the DL and Michael Bourn is patrolling left field for the Braves. Several players on Atlanta’s active roster, including A.J. Pierzynski, have played some of their best ball at Wrigley over the years. The Cubs must not take a Braves team that has lost 18 of its last 20 games on the road lightly.
Edwin Jackson returns to Wrigley and will pitch out of the Braves’ pen, along with former Cubs’ farmhands Andrew McKirahan and Arodys Vizcaino. Jackson has appeared in three games for the Braves since signing a Major League contract on Aug. 14.
After tonight’s match-up of Jake Arrieta and Mike Foltynewicz, Kyle Hendricks is scheduled to face Shelby Miller on Friday afternoon. Dan Haren and Williams Perez square off on Saturday afternoon. And Jason Hammel takes on Matt Wisler in the finale on Sunday.
Joe Maddon could really use his starters to bounce back and hold the Braves in check while the offense figures out three Braves starters they have not faced in the big leagues and Shelby Miller.
Tonight all starts with Jake Arrieta …
The Cubs improved to 8-2 in Jake Arrieta’s last 10 starts when he beat the White Sox last Saturday night. Arrieta did not have his good stuff, but still had more than enough to limit the Southsiders to three runs, two earned, on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. Arrieta walked two and struck out five while making a couple of mistakes that cost him and his team.
Jake Arrieta is 3-0 in his last three starts with a 0.84 ERA and 0.84 WHIP. Arrieta has allowed three runs, two earned, on 11 hits with seven walks and 16 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings. Since the break, Arrieta is 4-1 in six starts with a 1.56 ERR and 1.02 WHIP.
At Wrigley this year, Arrieta is 5-5 in 11 starts with a 2.76 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. Arrieta was pretty good in Atlanta a month ago. Arrieta pitched seven innings of shutout ball, allowed three hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts in a 4-1 win over the Braves. For his career, Jake Arrieta is 1-1 in three starts versus Atlanta with a 3.66 ERA and 1.07 WHIP.
Braves Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Nick Swisher: 0-for-18
- A.J. Pierzynski: 7-for-11 with one double and two walks
- Andrelton Simmons: 1-for-6 with one walk
- Nick Markakis: 0-for-6
- Cameron Maybin: 2-for-6
- Pedro Ciriaco: 0-for-4
- Eury Perez: 1-for-3 with one double
- Jace Peterson: 0-for-2 with one walk
- Michael Bourn: 0-for-2
- Jonny Gomes: 0-for-1
- Ryan Lavarnway: 0-for-1
Mike Foltynewicz has a big time arm and major stuff, but he has trouble throwing strikes. The Cubs must make him work and not let him get comfortable on the mound tonight. Foltynewicz is coming off a loss to the Diamondbacks. The 23-year old right-hander allowed six runs on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Over his last three starts, Foltynewicz is 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA and 1.78 WHIP. Foltynewicz has allowed 14 runs on 23 hits with six walks and eight strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings. And five of those 23 hits left the park. On the road this year, Foltynewicz is 0-2 in eight games, five starts, with a 4.78 ERA and 1.59 WHIP.
The Cubs get their first look at Mike Foltynewicz and no one currently on Joe Maddon’s roster has faced Foltynewicz in a regular season big league ballgame.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …