Game Ninety-Three: Cubs (56-36) vs. Mets (49-43)
- Game Time – 6:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet, ESPN – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 187, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jake Arrieta, RHP (12-4, 2.68/1.09/3.04) vs. Noah Syndergaard, RHP (9-4, 2.56/1.07/2.04)
Jake Arrieta gets the ball tonight in the middle game against the Mets. And all eyes will be on Arrieta throughout his outing to see if he can build off his last start 11 days ago and put his command issues even further behind him.
The Cubs need to see Arrieta respond to the extended breather the way the rest of his teammates have in the first four games after the break. Joe Maddon’s team has closely resembled the one that played excellent ball in April and May. From pitching to defense to working at-bats, the Cubs have looked good over the last four games. And now it’s up to Arrieta to answer a few questions and quiet his critics tonight.
Miguel Montero will be behind the plate. Ben Zobrist is expected back and Jason Heyward will be in the starting lineup with Noah Syndergaard on the hill. It’s time the Cubs make Syndergaard work and use his big arm against him.
Maddon’s lineup should lean to the left (.282/.319/.398/.717) with the way Syndergaard dominates right-handers (.210/.242/.285/.527).
Tonight all starts with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta said the All-Star break is exactly what he needed. Arrieta not only got a physical break from pitching but he also received a mental breather from the game. Arrieta expects to be back on track tonight in his first start since July 8.
Arrieta actually pitched better his last time out than his numbers indicate. Arrieta gave up hard contact, but he repeated his mechanics more than in his previous four starts and had better fastball command than he had in a month. Arrieta was charged with six runs on nine hits (two home runs) in six-plus innings. Arrieta walked one and struck out six.
Jake Arrieta is 0-2 in his last two starts and the Cubs are 3-3 in his last six starts. Arrieta takes the hill at Wrigley tonight for the first time since June 22. Arrieta is 4-2 in eight start at Wrigley this season with a 1.65 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
Arrieta lost to the Mets back on July 2. Arrieta gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks. Arrieta struck out four in 5 1/3 innings. For his career, Arrieta is 2-2 in six regular season starts versus the Mets with a 2.48 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
Mets Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Curtis Granderson: 11-for-32 with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and four walks
- Neil Walker: 6-for-31 with one double, one home run and one walk
- Wilmer Flores: 3-for-13 with one double
- Asdrubal Cabrera: 5-for-11 with two home runs and one walk
- Yoenis Cespedes: 3-for-11 with one double, one home run and one walk
- Alejandro De Aza: 3-for-7 with one walk
- Kelly Johnson: 0-for-6 with three walks
- Travis d’Arnaud: 3-for-7
- James Loney: 0-for-4 with one walk
- Noah Syndergaard: 0-for-4
- Juan Lagares: 0-for-3
- Jose Reyes: 1-for-3
- Michael Conforto: 0-for-2
The Cubs have the pleasure of facing Noah Syndergaard tonight. The Cubs will get another shot at Syndergaard. And hopefully they will make him work to start the game. Syndergaard left his last start with arm fatigue. He said he could not feel anything. If the Cubs swing early and often, they could help out Syndergaard.
Syndergaard was 1-1 in two starts leading into the break with a 3.09 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. One of those two starts was the dominating game against the Cubs in which Terry Collins left him on the mound too long in a blowout.
Outside of Citi Field this season, Syndergaard is 4-2 in seven starts with a 2.93 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Syndergaard made his big league debut at Wrigley a year ago. And for his career, Syndergaard is 1-1 in two starts against the Cubs with a 2.92 ERA and 1.38 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Noah Syndergaard
- Kris Bryant: 4-for-8 with one double and one triple
- Anthony Rizzo: 1-for-6 with two walks
- Jason Heyward: 3-for-6 with one double and one triple
- Javier Baez: 2-for-5
- Miguel Montero: 0-for-4 with one walk
- Ben Zobrist: 1-for-5 with one double
- Jake Arrieta: 0-for-4
- Willson Contreras: 0-for-2
- Addison Russell: 1-for-3
- David Ross: 0-for-2
- Albert Almora Jr.: 1-for-1
- Tommy La Stella: 0-for-1
- Matt Szczur: 0-for-1
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …