Sunday notes…
- 91 OR 92: A win today will make the Cubs’ final record 92-70, the same as it was in 1969 and 2017, with a winning percentage of .568. They would be tied for their 28th best percentage since 1901, but their fifth best this century, behind .640 in 2016 (103-58-1), .602 in 2008 (97-64), .599 in 2015 (97-65) and .583 in 2018 (95-68). A loss would make this the first season in which the Cubs have finished 91-71. They were 91-59-2 in 1912 and 91-63 in 1928. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- TAKING THE CARDS DOWNTOWN: The Cubs have hit 28 home runs against the Cardinals this season, their third most vs. the Cards in any year since 1901. They hit 37 in 1955 and 31 in 1954, both in 22 games. They have played 12 so far this season. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- CUBS LEAGUE RANKINGS: Runs. 791 (4th). Walks, 554 (6th). Home runs: 222 (7th). Stolen bases: 161 (3rd). OPS: .767 (7th). Fewest walks allowed: 404 (1st). WHIP: 1.18 (2nd).
- REMAINING POSTSEASON TBD SPOTS: One NL spot remains, the last wild card. If the Reds win Sunday, they’re in. The only way for the Mets to get in is if they win and the Reds lose. In the AL, if the Guardians win Sunday they are AL Central champions and the Tigers will be a wild card. If the Tigers win and the Guardians lose, Detroit is the AL Central champion and Cleveland a wild card. In the AL East, if the Blue Jays win Sunday they are division champs and the Yankees are a wild card. If the Yankees win and the Blue Jays lose, New York is the division champ and Toronto the wild card. The AL East winner will have the league’s best record and a first-round bye.
Cubs lineup:
Cardinals lineup:
Javier Assad, RHP vs. Kyle Leahy, RHP
Javier Assad last pitched eight
days ago against the Reds, a four-inning outing in which he threw 74 pitches.
If the Cubs want him available at all during the Wild Card Series, Assad probably won’t throw more than two innings today. At least that’s the way I see it. He has not faced the Cardinals this year.
The Cardinals are going with a bullpen game today, started by right-hander Kyle Leahy, who has not thrown more than 49 pitches in a game this year, and that was two months ago. This is Leahy’s first-ever MLB start, and as with Assad I wouldn’t expect him to go more than two innings.
In three relief outings vs. the Cubs this year, Leahy has a 4.91 ERA in 3.2 innings, with only one strikeout and two wild pitches.
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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
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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.
