Game One Hundred Fifteen: Cubs (73-41) vs. Cardinals (60-56)
- Game Time – 1:20pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: ABC-7 – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 183, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Kyle Hendricks, RHP (11-7, 2.17/1.02/3.35) vs. Luke Weaver, RHP (0-0, -.–/-.–/-.–)
The Cubs look to secure a series win over the Cardinals this afternoon behind Kyle Hendricks.
After taking the first two games of the series, the Cubs can win the series today and setup the possibility of a four-game sweep on Sunday night. Kyle Hendricks will be asked to pick up where Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta left off and keep the Cardinals off the board to give the offense a chance to figure out Luke Weaver.
The Cardinals are calling up right-hander Luke Weaver to make his Major League debut this afternoon at Wrigley against the Cubs. Welcome to the Show. The Cubs must make the very talented Weaver work and not allow him to get comfortable on the mound.
The Cardinals will place Matt Holliday on the disabled list at some point Saturday morning so Weaver can officially be recalled and start today.
With the Cubs blowing out the Cardinals on Friday afternoon, Mike Matheny will be determined to win today’s game. Matheny did not order any of his pitchers to retaliate for Matt Holliday on Friday. If the Cardinals get an early lead, Matheny could look to rub it in. The Cardinals will throw at and hit Kris Bryant and/or Anthony Rizzo at some point over the next two days.
Joe Maddon’s lineup today should lean to the left. Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist are expected to return to the starting lineup today and Willson Contreras is supposed to be back behind the plate.
Today all starts with Kyle Hendricks …
Kyle Hendricks looks to keep on track today and beat the Cardinals for the first time in his career. Hendricks took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning of his last outing in Oakland. Hendricks gave up a home run and was lifted with one out in the eighth. Hendricks did not walk a batter and struck out four in a game the Cubs won 3-1.
Kyle Hendricks is 4-1 in his last five starts with a 1.05 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, and in the last two, Hendricks is 2-0 with a 0.55 ERA and 0.80 WHIP. Hendricks has allowed one run on 10 hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings.
At Wrigley this year, Hendricks is 8-1 in 12 games, 11 starts, with a 1.19 ERA and 0.89 WHIP.
Kyle Hendricks lost the game in St. Louis back on April 20 after allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. For his career, Hendricks is 0-2 in five starts against the Cardinals with a 4.50 ERA and 1.29 WHIP (14 runs, 30 hits, six walks, 15 strikeouts, 28 innings).
Cardinals Career Numbers against Kyle Hendricks
- Matt Carpenter: 7-for-15 with two home runs and two walks
- Kolten Wong: 4-for-12 with one double, one home run and two walks
- Jhonny Peralta: 4-for-13 with one double
- Yadier Molina: 2-for-10 with one double and one walk
- Randal Grichuk: 2-for-6 with one double and one home run
- Stephen Piscotty: 2-for-5 with one double
- Jedd Gyorko: 0-for-3
- Brandon Moss: 0-for-2
Luke Weaver makes his big league debut today. Weaver started the season with Double-A Springfield. Weaver was 6-3 in 12 starts with a 1.40 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. Weaver allowed 23 runs, 12 earned, on 63 hits with 10 walks and 88 strikeouts in 77 innings.
The Cardinals promoted Weaver to Triple-A last week and he made only one start, last Monday, and he tossed six innings of scoreless ball against New Orleans.
In 13 starts between Double- and Triple-A, Weaver was 7-3 with a 1.30 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.
Weaver features a fastball in the 92-93 mph range that he can run up to 96 mph. Weaver throws an above-average change-up with sinking action, a curveball and slider.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …