Game Thirty: Cubs (23-6) vs. Nationals (19-11)
- Game Time – 1:20pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN-TV, MLB Network – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 188, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jake Arrieta (6-0, 0.84/0.74/2.80) vs. Tanner Roark (2-2, 2.35/1.17/2.89)
Happy Mother’s Day
Jake Arrieta takes the hill today as the Cubs look to complete the four-game sweep over the Nationals. The Cubs have won six straight and could cap a difficult week with seven victories over the Pirates and Nationals.
Joe Maddon should run out as many right handers as possible today with Tanner Roark making the start for Dusty Baker. Roark is an extreme reverse splits guy that has dominated lefties this season. Left-handers are hitting only .153/.247/.167 with a .414 OPS against Roark this year while right-handers are batting .284/.351/.343 with a .695 OPS.
Today all starts with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta is coming off another excellent outing against the Pirates. Arrieta completed seven innings of shutout ball and allowed just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Arrieta settled in after a rough start and kept the Pirates in check in a game the Cubs eventually won 7-1.
The Cubs will ask more of the same from Arrieta today in the series finale with the Nationals.
Arrieta is 2-0 in two starts at Wrigley this season with a 0.69 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. And this afternoon is Arrieta’s eighth career start against the Nationals.
Jake Arrieta is 1-1 in seven starts versus the Nationals with a 5.11 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. Arrieta was a different pitcher when he faced the Nationals as an Oriole early in his career. Arrieta beat Bryce Harper and the Nats the only time he saw them last year. Arrieta allowed one run on six hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in six innings on June 4 at Nationals Park.
Nationals Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Ryan Zimmerman: 4-for-16 with one walk
- Daniel Murphy: 4-for-14 with one home run and one walk
- Bryce Harper: 4-for-12 with one double and two walks
- Danny Espinosa: 4-for-8 with one triple and one home run
- Jayson Werth: 2-for-6 with one home run and one walk
- Anthony Rendon: 2-for-6 with one double
- Stephen Drew: 1-for-5
- Jose Lobaton: 1-for-4 with one double
- Wilson Ramos: 1-for-2 with one walk
- Chris Heisey: 0-for-3
- Michael Taylor: 1-for-2
Tanner Roark is showing this season why he should have stayed in the Nationals rotation a year ago. Roark has made six starts and three of them have been seven-inning shutouts. Roark was touched up for four runs, three earned, on six hits in 7 1/3 innings by the Royals five days ago.
In two road starts this season, Roark is 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA and 1.28 WHIP (nine runs, seven earned, on 13 hits with four walks and six strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings) and the Wilmington, Illinois native makes his fifth career start against the Cubs.
Tanner Roark is 3-2 in five games, four starts, versus the Cubs with a 5.33 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. At Wrigley Field, Roark is 2-1 in three games, two starts, with a 4.97 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Tanner Roark
- Jason Heyward: 0-for-12 with two walks
- Anthony Rizzo: 3-for-12 with two home runs
- Dexter Fowler: 2-for-8
- Tommy La Stella: 1-for-4
- Kris Bryant: 3-for-5 with one home run
- Addison Russell: 0-for-4
- David Ross: 0-for-2
- Jorge Soler: 1-for-2
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …