Sunday notes…
- SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE: This is the 15th of the Cubs’ 32 series in which they have split the first two games. They are 7-7 in third games, including 5-4 after losing, then winning. But they lost the only two such previous games at Wrigley Field, to the Nationals on March 29 and to the Giants on June 7. They won the two rubber games at home after having won, then lost, vs. the Angels on April 1 and the Rockies on June 17. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- SERIES NOTE: The Cubs are 15-14-2 in series before this one. They have won the last two and are 7-1-1 in the last nine. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- THE LONG BALL: The Cubs won yesterday despite giving up two homers and hitting one. They are 15-25 when they have hit fewer homers than their opponent, 20-12 with the same number and 20-6 with more. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Four Cubs home runs (Shawon Dunston, Gary Matthews, Dave Martinez and Ryne Sandberg), three of them off former Cub Mike Krukow, led the team to an 11-6 win over the Giants at Wrigley Field. It happened 40 years ago today, Saturday, July 19, 1986.
Cubs lineup:
Twins lineup:
Shōta Imanaga, LHP vs. Zebby Matthews, RHP
As I wrote in the mid-season grades article, Shōta Imanaga’s year can be split into three parts:
First nine starts: 2.32 ERA, 0.902 WHIP, 59 strikeouts and only five HR allowed in 54.1 innings Next four starts: 10.80 ERA, 1.524 WHIP, 12 (!) home runs allowed in 21.2 innings Next six starts: 2.81
ERA, 1.219 WHIP, 31 strikeouts and five HR allowed in 32 innings
Now you tell me which one is the real Shōta. He’s been pretty good apart from that four-start interregnum. Hopefully he can continue the good pitching he’s had over the last six.
Last year against the Twins, July 8, 2025 at Target Field, Imanaga held them to five hits and two runs in six innings. That’d work today, I think.
Fun fact: Zebby Matthews’ full name is Daniel Zebulon Matthews.
This is Matthews’ first full year in the Twins’ rotation. He has had his moments of success this year, but over his last two starts he’s allowed eight runs in 10.2 innings, with six walks and three home runs allowed. Warm up your bats, Cubs hitters!
Matthews has never faced the Cubs or anyone on their active roster. So it should be an interesting afternoon.
Baseball Savant" />
Baseball Savant" />
Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Twins site Twinkie Town. If you do go there to interact with Twins 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 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, 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.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
