Game One Hundred Fourteen: Cubs (72-41) vs. Cardinals (60-55)
- Game Time – 1:20pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: ABC-7, MLB Network – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 89, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jake Arrieta, RHP (13-5, 2.59/1.03/2.98) vs. Adam Wainwright, RHP (9-6, 4.34/1.32/3.33)
Weather permitting … Joe Maddon gives the ball to Jake Arrieta today as the Cubs look for back-to-back wins against the Cardinals.
Miguel Montero is expected behind the plate today with Arrieta on the mound. The Cubs continue to pair Jon Lester and David Ross and will continue having Montero catch Arrieta. Willson Contreras is catching the other three starters, at least for now.
The Cubs started the four-game series focused on beating the Cardinals and creating more breathing room in the NL Central. The Cardinals focus on winning ballgames may have shifted Thursday.
The Cardinals will throw at and hit at least one Cubs’ player in the next two days. It’s the Cardinals Way to retaliate for one of their players being hit. With Mike Montgomery breaking Matt Holliday’s right thumb last night, Adam Wainwright will likely look for the Cardinals revenge today.
The Cubs have their sights set on the big picture. Let’s just hope the Cardinals do not go headhunting as a large portion of their fan base is looking for them to do.
Today all starts with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta was very sharp in his last start against the A’s. Final numbers and opponent aside and Arrieta had very good command, kept the ball down and threw strikes for eight innings. Arrieta has actually looked good in three of his last four starts. And the outing against the Sox went south in the sixth inning.
Arrieta is 1-1 in his last four starts with a 2.25 ERA and 0.79 WHIP.
At Wrigley this season, Arrieta is 4-3 in 10 starts with a 1.71 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Arrieta has allowed 14 runs, 12 earned, on 41 hits with 27 walks and 81 strikeouts in 63 innings. Arrieta faces the Cardinals for the third time this season.
Today will be a good test for Arrieta. It was the start against the Cardinals on June 22 that he allowed to change his season. The Cardinals waited him out, made him work and Arrieta was done after five innings in a game the Cubs lost 7-2.
Jake Arrieta has let the Cardinals get the best of him. In two starts versus the Redbirds this year, Arrieta is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. Arrieta has given up six runs, five earned, on 11 hits with five walks and 10 strikeouts in 10 innings … the worst numbers for Arrieta against any team he’s faced multiple times this season.
Cardinals Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Jhonny Peralta: 9-for-22 with six doubles and three walks
- Kolten Wong: 6-for-28 with one double
- Matt Carpenter: 1-for-21 with six walks
- Matt Holliday: 2-for-20 with three walks
- Yadier Molina: 3-for-21 with one walk
- Stephen Piscotty: 1-for-7 with two walks
- Brandon Moss: 0-for-2 with three walks
- Tommy Pham: 1-for-5 with one walk
- Greg Garcia: 0-for-2
- Jedd Gyorko: 1-for-2
- Adam Wainwright: 0-for-1 with one walk
Adam Wainwright appeared to be back to Adam Wainwright until his last start. Wainwright was hit around by the Braves and he was charged with six runs, all earned, on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts in six innings. Wainwright is not the same pitcher he was before last season. But he’s been pretty good.
Wainwright is 1-1 in his last five starts with a 3.86 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.
On the road this season, Wainwright is 4-3 in 11 starts with a 5.94 ERA and 1.51 WHIP (43 runs, 42 earned, 77 hits, 19 walks, 50 strikeouts, 63 2/3 innings).
The Cubs get another shot today at beating Wainwright. The Redbirds right-hander is 1-0 in two starts against the Cubs this season with a 4.26 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.
For his career, Adam Wainwright is 13-7 in 39 games, 30 starts, against the Cubs with a 3.97 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Adam Wainwright
- Anthony Rizzo: 11-for-37 with one double, one home run and two walks
- Miguel Montero: 7-for-25 with one home run and two walks
- Chris Coghlan: 6-for-21 with two doubles and three walks
- Dexter Fowler: 3-for-21 with one double, one home run and one walk
- Jason Heyward: 4-for-18 with one double, one home run and one walk
- David Ross: 6-for-18 with three doubles, one home run and one walk
- Ben Zobrist: 3-for-11 with one double and one walk
- Jorge Soler: 1-for-9
- Javier Baez: 2-for-8
- Kris Bryant: 0-for-7 with one walk
- Addison Russell: 3-for-6 with one double
- Willson Contreras: 1-for-2 with one walk
- Jake Arrieta: 1-for-2
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …