Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Cubs (80-58) vs. Phillies (54-86)
- Game Time – 6:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 183, 844
- Location – Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Jake Arrieta (18-6, 2.03/0.92/2.46) vs. Adam Morgan (5-5, 4.42/1.24/5.33)
Updated: 5:00pm CDT – The Phillies announced tonight’s game will not start on time. The Phillies have not given an approximate start time. Reports from Philadelphia have stated the two teams do not want to stop and re-start the game. Joe Maddon would like a legitimate chance of playing the game with Jake Arrieta starting. Guesstimates from the park have pointed to anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half delay. Will update as information is available.
Weather permitting … The Cubs open a four-game series in Philadelphia tonight against a tough Phillies’ team that swept them in late July at Wrigley Field. The Cubs played their worst ball of the season that weekend (July 24-26) and The Streak was snapped. The Phillies are 25-24 since the break and hopefully have the Cubs attention. Winning a series in September against a team where the Phillies are right now is a must for the Cubs.
The Phillies made it official Thursday morning and announced Ruben Amaro Jr.’s contract will not be renewed, effectively ending his tenure as the General Manager in Philadelphia. Pete Mackanin has gotten a lot out of the talent on his roster. The Cubs are facing a team that is 4-12 in their last 16 games. Early runs are key this weekend for the Cubs to keep a team on their heels and not allow them to gain any confidence.
The Cubs will see three rookie pitchers and Aaron Harang over the next four days. After tonight’s match-up of Jake Arrieta and lefty Adam Morgan, Kyle Hendricks takes on right-hander Alec Asher on Friday night. Dan Haren squares off Saturday night against right-hander Jerad Eickhoff. And the series wraps up Sunday afternoon with Jason Hammel and Aaron Harang.
Joe Maddon should run out his right-handed lineup tonight with the Phillies giving the ball to a southpaw. Right handers have hit .281/.325/.479 against Adam Morgan in the majors while lefties have managed a .213/.265/.294 slash line against him. David Ross behind the plate, Kris Bryant in the outfield along with Austin Jackson and Javier Baez at third with Starlin Castro at second base could be five of Maddon’s starting nine.
Tonight all starts with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta followed up his sensational month of August (6-0 in six starts with a 0.43 ERA, 0.69 WHIP) with eight innings of shutout ball against the Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Arrieta was a little shaky in the first inning, settled down in the second and went to work. Arrieta gave up four hits, three singles and a double, without walking a batter and striking out seven. Arrieta has won his last seven decisions and more importantly the Cubs are 9-1 in his last 10 starts.
Arrieta’s post-break numbers are beyond outstanding. Arrieta is 8-1 in his last 10 starts with a 0.91 ERA and 0.81 WHIP. Arrieta has allowed nine runs, seven earned, on 37 hits with 19 walks and 74 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings.
Jake Arrieta is 11-1 in 15 starts outside of Wrigley this year with a 1.76 ERA and 0.89 WHIP.
The Phillies and Cole Hamels beat Arrieta on July 25. Arrieta was not sharp that horrible afternoon and was on the wrong end of the final day of The Streak.
For his career, Arrieta is 2-2 in four starts against the Phillies with a 4.94 ERA and 1.23 WHIP … at Citizens Bank Park, Jake Arrieta is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 0.43 WHIP (no runs on two hits with a walk and nine strikeouts in seven innings).
Phillies Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Carlos Ruiz: 2-for-7 with one double and one walk
- Cody Asche: 0-for-6
- Jeff Francoeur: 1-for-6 with one home run
- Ryan Howard: 1-for-5 with one home run and one walk
- Andres Blanco: 1-for-5
- Freddy Galvis: 0-for-3
- Cesar Hernandez: 0-for-3
- Odubel Herrera: 1-for-3 with one double
- Erik Kratz: 1-for-3
- Darin Ruf: 1-for-2 with one home run
The Cubs get their first look at lefty Adam Morgan tonight. Morgan is coming off a rough outing in Boston. Morgan allowed six runs on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. In his last 10 starts, Morgan is 4-3 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.22 WHIP (31 runs, 28 earned, on 58 hits with 11 walks and 29 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings).
Morgan has been solid in his home park. Morgan is 3-1 in seven starts with a 4.03 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.
No one on Joe Maddon’s active roster has faced Adam Morgan in a regular season big league ballgame.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …