Game Seventy-Nine: Cubs (51-27) vs. Mets (41-37)
- Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN-TV, MLB Network – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 89, 844
- Location – Citi Field, New York
Jason Hammel, RHP (7-4, 2.58/1.07/3.88) vs. Jacob deGrom, RHP (3-4, 2.67/1.12/3.00)
Weather permitting … Joe Maddon turns to Jason Hammel in game two at Citi Field as the Cubs look to get back in the win column against the Mets.
Jason Hammel has the task of keeping Yoenis Cespedes, Brandon Nimmo and company off the board while the offense figures out Jacob deGrom. The Cubs had a lot of success in the regular season against deGrom a year ago, the post-season not so much.
Maddon should have Jason Heyward in the starting lineup tonight which will likely push Ben Zobrist behind Anthony Rizzo. Maddon must protect Rizzo because when he hasn’t this season, like Thursday, teams haven’t pitched to him. The Cubs must make sure to capitalize on any scoring chances they have tonight because the Mets and Jacob deGrom should continue to play this series like it was taking place in the fall not before the Fourth of July.
Willson Contreras is expected to catch Hammel tonight. And if Albert Almora Jr. is in the starting lineup the Cubs should have the large outfield at Citi Field covered.
Tonight all starts with Jason Hammel …
Jason Hammel went toe-to-toe with the top starter in the Marlins rotation the last time out. Hammel limited the Marlins to two runs on four hits in six innings and put the Cubs in a position to win the game. Hammel has been matched up against several of the opposition’s No. 1 or No. 2 starters this season. Hammel has more than held his own and will be asked to do more of the same tonight.
Hammel is 1-3 in his last five starts with a 3.45 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. And outside of Wrigley this season, Hammel is 4-3 in nine starts with a 2.45 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.
Jason Hammel makes his sixth career start against the Mets tonight. Hammel has not beaten the Metropolitans in the first five tries. Hammel is 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Hammel has started three games at Citi Field and he’s 0-2 with a 6.91 ERA and 1.60 WHIP.
Mets Career Numbers against Jason Hammel
- James Loney: 13-for-41 with three doubles and three home runs
- Kelly Johnson: 9-for-30 with one double, two home runs and one walk
- Curtis Granderson: 9-for-26 with two doubles, two home runs and three walks
- Neil Walker: 5-for-19 with one double and two walks
- Asdrubal Cabrera: 2-for-8 with one double and one home run
- Wilmer Flores: 1-for-4
- Rene Rivera: 0-for-2
- Yoenis Cespedes: 0-for-1 with one walk
- Travis d’Arnaud: 1-for-1 with one home run
Jacob deGrom has been really good of late and will look to pitch against the Cubs tonight the way he did in the tournament last year. deGrom was awful against the Cubs in the regular season and made all of the right, or wrong depending on your point of view, adjustments in October. deGrom has pitched extremely well of late and tonight will be his first start against a team other than the Braves since June 14.
In his second of two straight against the Braves, deGrom pitched eight innings of scoreless ball while allowing seven hits and a walk with six strikeouts. deGrom is 0-3 in his last five starts with a 2.45 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
Jacob deGrom is 2-2 in seven starts at Citi Field this season with a 2.51 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
deGrom makes his fourth career regular season start against the Cubs tonight. In three regular season starts, deGrom is 0-2 with a 6.46 ERA and 1.70 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Jacob deGrom
- Anthony Rizzo: 4-for-12 with one home run
- Jason Heyward: 3-for-9
- Chris Coghlan: 1-for-5 with two walks
- Kris Bryant: 1-for-5 with one home run and one walk
- Miguel Montero: 1-for-6
- Addison Russell: 1-for-4
- Ben Zobrist: 0-for-3
- Javier Baez: 0-for-2
- David Ross: 0-for-2
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …