National League Division Series Game 4: Cubs (97-65, 2-1) vs. Cardinals (100-62, 1-2)
- Game Time – 3:37pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: TBS – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 184(Cubs), 844(Cubs), 183(Cardinals)
- Location – Wrigley Field
Jason Hammel (10-7, 3.74/1.16/3.68) vs. John Lackey (13-10, 2.77/1.21/3.57)
The National League Division Series – Game 4
Cubs Lead Best of Five Series 2-1
Joe Maddon turns to Jason Hammel this afternoon in Game 4 of the NLDS as the Cubs look to take the series from the Cardinals. Maddon needs ‘The Hammer’ today to keep the Cardinals in check while his teammates figure out John Lackey. Mike Matheny decided the Cardinals best chance to send the series to a Game 5 in St. Louis is to have Lackey pitch on three days rest.
Jason Hammel is due for a good outing. Hammel is a much better pitcher than he has shown since July 8. Hammel’s season was derailed by a hamstring injury and the extra rest he’s received should have benefited him.
The Cardinals shortened up John Lackey in Game 1 with the thought he might be needed in Game 4. Lackey has not pitched on three days rest this season and has only done it twice in his career. Lackey is 1-1 with a 4.82 ERA and 1.71 WHIP (five runs on 10 hits with six walks and 11 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings) when he’s pitched on three days rest.
Joe Maddon should start Jorge Soler today even with Lackey’s splits. Left handers hit .271/.340/.367 against Lackey in the regular season and right handers batted .244/.271/.329. Soler has good numbers against Lackey and what Maddon has done with his lineup in the four games Lackey has started against the Cubs this year has not worked.
It is doubtful Addison Russell is in the starting lineup after leaving Monday’s game with tightness in his left hamstring. Javier Baez and Starlin Castro should be up the middle today.
This afternoon all starts with Jason Hammel …
Jason Hammel takes the hill this afternoon for the first time in 12 days. Hammel had a good start against the Reds in his final outing of the regular season. Hammel gave up five hits over five shutout innings with no walks and five strikeouts. Hammel gave up a lot of hard contact, but the defense stepped up behind him on a rainy day in Cincinnati.
Over his last 14 starts of the season, Hammel was 5-3 with a 5.10 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. Hammel has struggled for so long after a hamstring injury shortened his outing on July 8 against the Cardinals that it is easy to forget how good he was prior to the break.
Jason Hammel was 5-4 in his first 17 starts of the season with a 2.86 ERA and 0.95 WHIP.
Today is Hammel’s fourth start of the year against the Cardinals. Hammel is 1-1 in three starts with a 5.73 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. Hammel allowed seven runs on 10 hits with five walks and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings. His numbers on the year against the Redbirds are a little skewed. Hammel left the game on July 8 after one inning and another start was interrupted by rain. In his only uninterrupted game against the Cardinals, Hammel allowed three runs on four hits with four walks and six strikeouts in six innings. Hammel posted a quality start and a win on Sept. 8 in St. Louis.
Cardinals Career Numbers against Jason Hammel
- Jhonny Peralta: 9-for-23 with two doubles, two home runs and two walks
- Jason Heyward: 9-for-18 with one double and one walk
- Mark Reynolds: 2-for-16 with two walks
- Matt Holliday: 4-for-11 with three doubles and two walks
- Yadier Molina: 6-for-13 with three doubles and one walk
- Matt Carpenter: 2-for-12 with one double
- Brandon Moss: 3-for-11 with one double
- Jon Jay: 1-for-6 with one walk
- Randal Grichuk: 2-for-6 with one triple and one home run
- Stephen Piscotty: 1-for-2 with one walk
- Kolten Wong: 1-for-3 with one double
- Greg Garcia: 1-for-2 with one walk
- Tommy Pham: 0-for-2
The Cubs get another shot at John Lackey this afternoon. Lackey and Yadier Molina shut the Cubs down in Game 1. Lackey allowed just two hits and no runs over 7 1/3 innings without a walk and five strikeouts. Lackey has owned the Cubs during his time in the Cardinals rotation.
In three starts during the regular season, Lackey was 2-0 against the Cubs with a 1.25 ERA and 1.11 WHIP.
For as good as John Lackey has been this year he has struggled on the road compared to Busch Stadium. Lackey was 9-4 in 17 starts at home with a 1.93 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. On the road, Lackey was 4-6 in 16 starts with a 3.82 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Lackey pitched seven innings of shutout ball at Wrigley on July 6 while allowing six hits, a walk and striking out four batters.
Cubs Career Numbers against John Lackey
- Chris Coghlan: 8-for-19 with one double and one walk
- Austin Jackson: 5-for-16 with two doubles and one walk
- Miguel Montero: 4-for-15 with two doubles and one walk
- Anthony Rizzo: 1-for-15 with one walk
- Starlin Castro: 3-for-15
- Kris Bryant: 2-for-12 with one walk
- Jorge Soler: 4-for-8 with three doubles and one walk
- Javier Baez: 0-for-8
- Dexter Fowler: 2-for-10 with one walk
- Addison Russell: 3-for-9 with one walk
- Chris Denorfia: 0-for-3 with one walk
- Tommy La Stella: 2-for-5
- David Ross: 1-for-5
- Kyle Schwarber: 1-for-2 with one walk
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …