Game One Hundred Twenty-Three: Cubs (71-51) vs. Indians (58-65)
- Game Time – 1:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN-TV Ch. 9 – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 183, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jon Lester (8-9, 3.58/1.23/3.15) vs. Corey Kluber (8-13, 3.52/1.05/2.81)
The Cubs wrap up the seven-game homestand with a make-up game against the Indians. The Cubs are 4-2 over the first six games and a win today is must before departing for a six-game trip through San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Today is the make-up of the game that was cancelled on June 15. Jake Arrieta was scheduled to face Trevor Bauer in what was supposed to be the first of four with the Indians. The Indians beat the Cubs the next day 6-0 at Wrigley and the teams split the two games in Cleveland.
The Cubs are 8-10 versus the American League this season and have one more Interleague game on the schedule after today. The Royals return to Wrigley on Sept. 28 to make-up the game that was postponed on May 30.
Jon Lester looks to bounce back today from his horrible outing against the Tigers. And he will face one of the best in the Junior Circuit. Corey Kluber kicks off what will be an extremely challenging week for the offense. After dealing with Corey Kluber, the Cubs will see Madison Bumgarner and Jake Peavy in San Francisco and Clayton Kershaw in Los Angeles.
Today all starts with Jon Lester …
Jon Lester is coming off a miserable outing, his worst of the season. And it’s imperative for him and the Cubs that he has a good start this afternoon against the Indians. Lester could not complete three innings last Wednesday. Lester gave up seven runs on seven hits, three home runs, with three walks and four strikeouts to the Tigers in 2 2/3 innings.
Even with the dud against Detroit, Lester is 4-1 in his last six starts with a 3.55 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.
Jon Lester makes his 17th start of the season at Wrigley this afternoon. Lester is 6-7 in the first 16 with a 3.75 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. He has allowed 45 runs, 41 earned, on 98 hits with 26 walks and 103 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings.
Lester missed the Indians earlier in the season. For his career, Jon Lester is 7-1 in 14 starts with a 3.23 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Last season, Lester beat Cleveland the only time he faced them. Lester held the Indians to two runs, one earned, on eight hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings on June 12 in a 5-2 Red Sox victory.
Indians Career Numbers against Jon Lester
- Mike Aviles: 3-for-14 with one double and one walk
- Michael Brantley: 5-for-15 with two doubles
- Ryan Rayburn: 3-for-15
- Carlos Santana: 3-for-12 with two walks
- Yan Gomes: 3-for-9
- Jason Kipnis: 2-for-4
- Jerry Sands: 0-for-3
Corey Kluber has been very, very good this season. And the Cubs will their first look in a regular season game at the reigning AL Cy Young award winner.
Kluber is coming off a rather rough outing in Boston. The Red Sox scored six runs on six hits with a walk in six innings. Kluber still struck out nine batters and he’s had a lot of success against the better teams in the Junior Circuit this season.
Kluber is 4-3 in his last seven starts with a 3.88 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. Kluber has allowed 23 runs, all earned, on 40 hits with seven walks and 48 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings. Outside of Cleveland, Kluber is 3-7 in 14 starts with a 4.17 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
Corey Kluber makes the first start of his career this afternoon against the Cubs.
Dexter Fowler (0-for-4) and Miguel Montero (0-for-3) are the only position players on Joe Maddon’s active roster that have faced Corey Kluber in a regular season Major League Baseball game.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …