Wednesday notes…
- FOR OPENERS: The Cubs never have used an “opener” in a post-season game. They have had three games in which a starter was removed before the second inning. All were in the World Series, the last 80 years ago. Guy Bush got one out and allowed a run on two hits and a walk in Game 4 of 1932 at home vs. the Yankees, Charlie Root surrendered four runs on four hits without recording an out at Detroit in Game 2 of 1935 and Hank Borowy gave up three runs on three hits without getting an out at home vs. the Tigers in Game 7 of 1945. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- ABOUT GAME 2: The Cubs are 8-5 in all second games of postseason series at home. They have won back-to-back games at home to start only two series: the 1984 Championship Series vs. the Padres and the 2016 Division Series vs. the 2016 Division Series vs. the Giants. The only other time they won Game 1 at home, in the 2016 Championship Series vs. the Dodgers, they lost Game 2. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- MORE ON GAME 2: During the regular season, the Cubs won the first two games of 11 series at home, including April 4-5 vs. the Padres. They won the first game and lost the second in eight series. Then they won the third game four times and lost it three. There was no third game in one series. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- HISTORY IS ON THE CUBS’ SIDE: In the three years (2022-24) of the current Wild Card Series format, there have been 12 such series. Only two of them have gone to a third game. And in the eight Wild Card Series in the 2020 pandemic season, just two went to a third game — so in all, four of 20 total such series went past Game 2.
Cubs lineup:
Padres lineup:
Andrew Kittredge, RHP vs. Dylan Cease, RHP
Andrew Kittredge is, obviously, an opener today against the Padres. He threw a 1-2-3 inning in Tuesday’s Game 1 victory, throwing 14 pitches (10 strikes).
Kittredge was used as an opener a few times when he was with the Rays, but he has not opened since 2021. I doubt that makes any real difference to him; an inning is an inning.
Tuesday,
Kittredge faced Freddy Fermin, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arráez. He’ll face Tatis and Arráez again this afternoon, and again, I doubt that makes any real difference.
While nothing has been officially announced, it is widely assumed that Shōta Imanaga will follow Kittredge and throw 4-5 innings. Thus I am going to give you pitch charts for both Kittredge and Imanaga below.
Imanaga threw well against the Padres this year: two runs (one earned) in 12.1 total innings, with 11 strikeouts.
Overall, Dylan Cease did not have a good year, though his September was better (five starts, 3.12 ERA, 1.308 WHIP, only one home run allowed in 26 innings).
Against the Cubs April 14 in San Diego, he allowed three runs (two earned) in 5.2 innings, including a home run by Michael Busch.
It would be wonderfully appropriate, I think, for the Cubs to defeat their former prospect to reach the Division Series.
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Today’s game is on ABC. Check local listings for the ABC affiliate in your area. In Chicago that’s WLS-ABC7. Announcers: Kevin Brown, Jessica Mendoza, Ben McDonald and Jesse Rogers.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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The 2025 Game Thread procedure will be identical to previous years.
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Discuss amongst yourselves.
