Game One Hundred Thirty-Six: Cubs (87-48) vs. Giants (73-62)
- Game Time – 1:20pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: ABC-7, TBS – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 186, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
John Lackey, RHP (9-7, 3.41/1.04/3.72) vs. Johnny Cueto, RHP (14-5, 2.98/1.10/3.10)
The Cubs wrap up the homestand, series and season-series with the Giants today. The Cubs are 5-1 on the homestand with one left to play. The Cubs begin a three-city, nine-game road trip on Labor Day with the first of three in Milwaukee.
John Lackey will be reinstated from the DL and take on Johnny Cueto. The Cubs and Giants have split the first six games of the season series (3-3). The Giants are in must-win mode. And with the way the Cubs played Saturday it would be good to see Joe Maddon’s team play a complete game and actually win a game on a Sunday at Wrigley Field.
Maddon is running out a majority of his regulars against Johnny Cueto. Anthony Rizzo is back at first base with Jason Heyward in right field. Willson Contreras is catching Lackey. Contreras could use a bounce-back game after his struggles behind the plate on Saturday with Jake Arrieta.
Cubs batting order: Dexter Fowler CF, Kris Bryant 3B, Anthony Rizzo 1B, Ben Zobrist 2B, Addison Russell SS, Jason Heyward RF, Willson Contreras C, Chris Coghlan LF, John Lackey P
Finishing the series and the homestand with a win would make the bus trip to Milwaukee a lot more enjoyable.
Today all starts with John Lackey …
All eyes will be on John Lackey today as he makes his first start since Aug. 14. Lackey was lifted in the seventh inning against the Cardinals in a game the Cubs eventually lost 6-4. Lackey has been dealing with a sore right shoulder since. Lackey gave up one unearned run on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings to the Redbirds three-plus weeks ago.
Lackey was back on track before landing on the DL. Lackey was 1-0 in the three starts prior to missing time with a 1.66 ERA and 0.74 WHIP.
Since the break, Lackey is 2-2 in six starts with a 2.59 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. And the Cubs were 3-3 in those six games.
John Lackey is 6-4 in 13 starts at Wrigley this season with a 2.47 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. Lackey missed the Giants in San Francisco earlier in the year. For his career, Lackey is 1-1 in two starts against the Giants with a 2.57 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.
Giants Career Numbers against John Lackey
- Eduardo Nunez: 4-for-13 with three doubles and three walks
- Denard Span: 2-for-10 with three walks
- Hunter Pence: 2-for-6 with two doubles
- Brandon Belt: 0-for-2 with one walk
- Conor Gillaspie: 0-for-3
- Joe Panik: 0-for-3
- Buster Posey: 1-for-3
- Brandon Crawford: 0-for-2
The Cubs get their first look at an old foe in a new jersey today. Johnny Cueto takes on the Cubs for the first time with the Giants after years of leading the Reds staff.
Depending on which Johnny Cueto shows up today, the Cubs could be in for quite the challenge this afternoon. Cueto hasn’t been as effective of late for Bruce Bochy. Cueto lasted just 4 2/3 innings his last time out while allowing four runs on five hits with four walks to the Diamondbacks. Cueto is 1-2 in his last six starts with a 4.38 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
Since the break, Cueto is 1-4 in nine starts with a 4.25 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.
Outside of San Francisco, Cueto is 8-2 in 14 starts with a 3.08 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Today marks the 24th time Cueto has started a game against the Cubs.
Johnny Cueto pretty much owned the Cubs over the last several seasons of his Reds career. Cueto is 9-8 in 23 starts against the Cubs with a 3.34 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Cueto faced the Cubs once last year and allowed four runs on seven hits with no walks and nine strikeouts in seven innings. The Reds lost the game at Wrigley by a final of 5-4.
Cubs Career Numbers against Johnny Cueto
- Anthony Rizzo: 2-for-22 with one double and one home run
- Chris Coghlan: 5-for-17 with one double, one home run and one walk
- Miguel Montero: 2-for-19 with one walk
- Jason Heyward: 3-for-15 with two doubles
- Dexter Fowler: 3-for-13 with one walk
- Ben Zobrist: 0-for-6 with one walk
- Javier Baez: 0-for-6
- David Ross: 1-for-4 with one walk
- Matt Szczur: 1-for-3 with two walks
- Kris Bryant: 2-for-3
- Addison Russell: 1-for-3 with one double
- Jorge Soler: 1-for-2 with one double and one walk
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …