Today’s roster move: Here
Thursday notes…
- SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE: This is the 24th of the Cubs’ 40 series in which they have split the first two games. It is the fourth in their last five series. There was no third game in one series. In the 22 others before this one, the Cubs were 12-10 in third games, including 5-8 after they had lost, then won. They are 8-6 in all rubber games but 4-6 on the road. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- THE HOT HITTING CONTINUES: Matt Shaw, 22 games since the All-Star break: .323/.362/.785 (21-for-65) with four doubles, a triple, eight home runs, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored.
- ALL EVEN: The all-time series between the Cubs and Blue Jays is tied at 13 wins each, so the winner of today’s game will take the series lead, for now. The Cubs are 7-10 in Toronto and 6-3 against the Jays at Wrigley Field.
- STARTING OFF WELL: In their last 25 games dating to July 12, the Cubs’ starting rotation has posted a 2.93 ERA (43 earned runs in 132 innings), the lowest mark in MLB during that stretch. In those games, the rotation has allowed three runs or fewer 15 times.
Here are today’s particulars.
The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.
Blue Jays lineup:
Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. Max Scherzer, RHP
Matthew Boyd vs. Max Scherzer. What year is this, 2015?
Actually, if this were 2015, Scherzer would have been in his first year with the Nationals and Boyd would have been a rookie, traded at the deadline from the Blue Jays to the Tigers in the David
Price deal.
Okay, enough nostalgia. Boyd’s pitching well enough this year that he’ll likely get some downballot Cy Young votes. Over his last eight starts: 1.80 ERA, 2.17 FIP, 0.880 WHIP. Just really good stuff. Most current Blue Jays have not seen him (just 12 combined AB).
As for Scherzer… well, he hasn’t made 30 starts in a season since 2021 and his performance this year hints he might be done after 2025, on his way to Cooperstown.
Scherzer dominated the Cubs many, many times but has not faced them since 2022. Dansby Swanson has 51 (!) career at-bats against him and two home runs (but 19 strikeouts and a .196 BA).
Despite Scherzer’s relatively high season ERA, his last three starts have produced a 2.84 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 19 innings. So maybe he still has something left in the tank.
Baseball Savant" />
Baseball Savant" />Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. You can find out if Marquee is available via a provider in your area here.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Blue Jays site Bluebird Banter. If you do go there to interact with Blue Jays fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2025 Game Thread procedure will be identical to last year’s.
You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.
You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
