Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Sean Rodriguez RF, Cutch CF, Josh Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, Starling Marte LF, Jordy Mercer SS, Chris Stewart C, Ivan Nova P. We're not sure why S-Rod keeps getting planted at the top of the order and Marte dropped, but that's just a nit.
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| Ivan's been tough on the Cubs (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) |
Pitchers: Ivan Nova (11-11, 3.97) takes on José Quintana (8-11, 4.49) in the finale. The Jekyll and Hyde Nova went 9-6/3.21 in 18 starts prior to the All-Star break and 2-5/6.00 in eight starts since. To make it a little worse, he's winless in his last five road starts (0-5/7.57); the good news is that the last road game he won was against Chicago. Ivan has actually been quite solid against the Cubbies lifetime in a small sample, with a line of 2-0/2.84 in three starts. He's 2-0/3.29 this year, winning 4-3 in June and 4-2 in July, both decisions against Jake Arrieta. Jose Quintana is the guy that the White Sox wanted the farm for, and the cross-town Cubbies were the ones that bellied up. The southpaw hasn't gone longer than six innings as a NL'er since his first start and in the seven outings since July 23, he's 3-4/5.31. He still can get swings and misses, averaging 10 K per nine and his acquisition gave the Baby Bears a yuge mental jolt, but he hasn't been much of a physical difference-maker since switching leagues. Jose beat the Bucs in his only outing against them back in 2015 but was touched for three runs and nine hits in six innings.
Notes:
- Jordy has hit safely in five straight games (9-for-17, .529) with three multi-hit performances.
- Nova could have his busiest campaign ever tonight; he's five innings away from topping the career-high mark he set in 2012 (170-1/3 IP).
- Jerry Crasnick of ESPN has a piece on J-Bell "The Best Rookie You Haven't Heard Of Yet."
- LHP Steven Brault (10-5/1.94) of Indy not only made the International League Postseason All-Star Team but was named the IL's Most Valuable Pitcher.
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