Today’s roster move: Here
Note on BCB procedure today: I will post a recap of Game 1 as soon as possible after it’s over. That post will include the starting pitcher info and other details for Game 2, which is scheduled to start at 4:35 p.m. CT (see below).
You all know about the approaching storm in the Boston area. Here’s the Boston-area radar for you to keep handy.
Here’s more on the potential weather disruptions from Matthew Gross at our SB Nation Red Sox site Over The Monster. Further, if you have
not already seen this (Bluesky link):
Friday notes…
- ROAD WARRIORS: The Cubs are 42-36 on the road, but only 11-17 in day games, including 2-7 in the second of back-to-back day games, at the same or different sites. The wins were at Cleveland on April 5 and Seattle on Aug. 23. The losses were at Cleveland on April 3 and 5, Tampa on April 6, Los Angeles vs. the Dodgers on April 26, Pittsburgh on May 25; Miami on Sept. 6 and Milwaukee on Sept. 7. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- FRIDAY ON MY MIND: The Cubs are 12-13 on Friday. They are 7-6 on the road, where they have lost two of the last three after having won the previous two. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- GOTTA SCORE MORE: Yesterday’s Wild Card-clinching 2-1 win was just the Cubs’ 12th of the season in which they have scored three or fewer runs. They have lost 47. They are 76-24 when they have scored at least four. It also was only their 14th win with six or fewer hits. They have lost 35. They are 74-36 with at least seven. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Ken Holtzman takes a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Dodgers and Sandy Koufax, billed as “the battle of the Jewish left-handers.” Dick Schofield leads off the ninth with a single, breaking up the no-no, and the Dodgers score a run before Holtzman gets Willie Davis to hit into a game-ending double play and the Cubs win 2-1. It happened 60 years ago today, Sunday, Sept, 25. 1966. More on this game in this BCB article from 2021.
Cubs lineup:
Red Sox lineup:
Clay Holmes, RHP vs. Alec Gamboa, LHP
The bad news is that since Clay Holmes joined the Cubs, he’s pitched much better at Wrigley Field (1.14 ERA in four starts) than on the road (8.24 ERA in four starts). Yikes.
The (sort of) good news? Well… Holmes has a 3.31 ERA in 16.1 career innings at Fenway Park (11 appearances, one start). That start was May 20, 2025 and he allowed two runs in six innings, which today would be just fine. Willson Contreras is 5-for-11 vs. Holmes.
Alec Gamboa is an opener today against the Cubs. He hasn’t thrown more than 29 pitches in a game since early August so expect him to go no more than two innings.
Gamboa is a rookie this year, originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2019, but they let him go last year and he spent the rest of 2025 in Korea before the Red Sox signed him last offseason. He’s never faced the Cubs, obviously, or anyone on their active roster. It’s possible that Jake Bennett, also a left-hander, could be the “bulk guy” after Gamboa.
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Here is the weather forecast for the area around Fenway Park. It does seem likely that this game, at least, will be played in dry conditions, though it will be pretty windy.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
MLB.com Gameday
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Red Sox site Over The Monster. If you do go there to interact with Red Sox 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.
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